Boroughs put a spoke in cycle network

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A report warns there is a "high risk" that the 560-mile London Cycle Network Plus, which aims to create safe, continuous routes, will not be finished by 2010 because of 140 problem-locations.

About 340 miles have been completed since 2003, helping to encourage Londoners to use bikes.

Mayor Ken Livingstone's aim is for an 80 per cent increase in cycling by the end of the decade.

Transport for London admits that it faces "major challenges" in areas such as Staples Corner (where the A5 intersects with the A406 North Circular Road), Camden High Street, Tower Gateway and Parliament Square.

These are due to a combination of lack of road space and large volumes of traffic.

TfL also faces opposition from council's such as Barnet, which prefers to prioritise motorists over cyclists.

The majority of the cycle network uses borough roads rather than TfL's red route network of main carriageways.

The news comes as one of TfL's own transport advisers spoke out against its plans to reduce spending on cycling towards the end of the decade - despite a proposed increase until 2009.

Lynn Sloman, a cycling expert and environmental adviser to the TfL board, said: "I'm concerned that the 25 per cent cut in walking and cycling expenditure between now and 2012 will make it very difficult to achieve the target to increase levels of cycling.

"The figures have been increasing until now because, in large part, of the investment we have been putting in."

A TfL spokeswoman said: "We are committed to completing the London Cycle Network Plus by the end of 2010. This will provide a continuous, joined-up cycle network across the capital.

"Work is taking place with partners to identify the schemes that still need to be put into place in order for the network to be completed."

She added: "We welcome the concerns of the boroughs, as many of the difficult outstanding issues will require their active support particularly in, for example, Barnetwhere no money has been spent on the cycle network since the 2002/03 financial year."