Call for Automated Green Lights for Cyclists Sparks Debate on London’s Roads
Tensions between motorists and cyclists on Britain’s busy roads are well-documented, but a recent proposal from a prominent bike-hire company has ignited a new firestorm. Lime, a leading bike-sharing service, has advocated for a radical shift in traffic management: traffic lights that automatically turn green for cyclists.
Hal Stevenson, Policy Director for Lime, believes that implementing this measure in London could significantly curb instances of cyclists disregarding red lights. He argues that current signal timings are predominantly set to accommodate motor traffic speeds, leading to frequent stops and less efficient journeys for those on two wheels.
“Cyclists shouldn’t be left on red,” Stevenson stated in an article published on the news website MyLondon. He highlighted the growing prominence of cycling in the capital, noting that it now accounts for up to one in five trips in central London, with cycle traffic at peak times even surpassing that of cars.
Stevenson pointed to Transport for London’s (TfL) recent announcement to grant buses priority at all 3,500 traffic lights by 2030. He welcomed this initiative and called for its extension to encompass bicycles. He further elaborated on the expansion of London’s cycling infrastructure, noting that the city’s cycling network has grown from approximately 56 miles in 2016 to an impressive 267 miles by last year.
“Rethinking how traffic lights are timed could be a natural next step in building on that success,” Stevenson suggested. He drew parallels with other leading cycling cities, such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam, citing their successful implementation of “green wave” technology. This system rewards cyclists travelling at a safe, consistent speed with a sequence of green lights, which Stevenson claims has demonstrably improved safety and rider behaviour while reducing journey times at a relatively low cost. Moreover, he believes it could be an effective tool in addressing the issue of red-light running.
However, the proposal has been met with strong opposition. Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, dismissed the suggestion as “farcical.” He argued that London is already “incredibly congested,” with traffic moving slower than ever before.
McNamara voiced concerns that companies like Lime, with their time-based pricing models, inadvertently “incentivise” bike hirers to take “dangerous risks,” including ignoring red lights, as completing journeys faster equates to lower costs.
He further commented on what he perceives as a disconnect between cycling advocates and the realities of road usage. McNamara stated that he attends road safety meetings alongside members of what he described as the “white, middle-class cycling lobby,” whose “whole obsession is removing vehicle traffic from the roads.”
Recent data underscores the challenges of navigating London by car. A report by location technology firm TomTom identified London as the world’s slowest capital city for driving last year. The analysis revealed that it took an average of three minutes and 38 seconds to travel just 0.6 miles in the city centre. This sluggish pace has been partly attributed to the widespread implementation of 20mph speed limits across the capital.
