The capital's best roads for cyclists have been revealed in the London Cycling Campaign annual awards.
Agar Grove in Camden and Pentonville Road in Islington were named the most improved areas following work to make them cycle friendly.
Judges praised the Transport for London-funded cycle link between Agar Grove and Camley Street for being like "a sudden arrival on a country lane with no motor traffic".
The Pentonville Road/Penton Rise junction was chosen for allowing cyclists to use bus lanes more easily.
Awards organisers hailed the capital's coming of age as a serious cycling city, and a record number of entries were received.
Clare Neely, chairwoman of the judges, said: "It's a pleasure to see that not only is cycling soaring in London but that the standard of and number of projects nominated for the London Cycling Awards is growing."
Tom Bogdanowicz, LCC's campaigns and development manager, said: "The winners in each category show that outstanding ideas and clever engineering solutions are being developed across London and that they are worth the effort."
Another award winner was a Metropolitan Police project in Regent's Park to help pupils at the nearby Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children learn cycling and road safety awareness.
The Bike on Estates Project, from Hackney, also won an award for its work to take cycling into three housing estates. The Lottery-funded project let children borrow bikes and taught them how to fix them and ride properly.
Reader views (32)
Why not build a cycle lane from London Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge that goes alongside the Thames?
In some parts of the Thames in zone 1 there is no walkway - the path just runs to an abrupt end! For example on Watermans Walk & Pauls Walk you are forced to divert your walk about 500 metres up Upper Thames Street which is hundreds of metres away from the river.
In these places a new pier/or pathway could easily be put in place to run parallel to the river which pedestrians and cyclists could be directed onto rather than onto the unnecessary divertions that are currently in place.
- Stephen M, London
Just cycled home, didn't stop at a single set of traffic lights, made it in record time. Only had to dodge one numpty pedestrian. Great
- Dc, London
P Staker - you got that response from your typical anti-rabib cycling views of "scum of the earth". So what sort of response did you expexct??
- Dom, London
Dep, London
Just to add a little something into the mix - I cycle from West London to Central London every day and part of my route requires going round the Lancaster Gate one way system. Pulling away from the lights I regularly have cars or vans (I have to say very rarely taxi or HGV drivers) trying to overtake me before cutting across to get into the left hand lane towards Paddington. Then the exact same thing happens as I prepare to turn left towards Edgware Road. In my experience of commuting by bike (which I've been doing now for approaching 3 years) you get bad cyclists just as you get bad drivers. In my opinion there is no excuse for running a red light or riding on the pavement, and pedestrians should always have the right of way, but we live in the real world and not everyone follows the rules. Just as some drivers undertake, speed and seem to enjoy buzzing the right side of my bike, you'll always have idiot cyclists too that give us all a bad rep. Just please try to remember that most of us aren't trying to wind you up, we're just trying to get somewhere safely on a bike with a smile on our faces. Give it a go - you won't go back!
- Ju, London, Uk
Well I live in Rome and its just not possible to cycle here. I think its great that Londoners have that possibility. I've never cycled in London but it should be encouraged and they should pay LESS tax after all they are less likely to have heart disease and cancer due to their aerobic activity and at the same time they are saving the city millions by not adding carbon emissions to the environment thereby saving on cleaning smog covered buildings and the NHS costs of treating people with allergies and asthma not to mention road accidents. Everyone should either use public transport or use a bike, with such an excellent transport system in London there is NO reason to use a car to get to work.
- Sinad, rome
Approximately 60 people a week die on the roads, most are killed by motor vehicles, and this includes cyclists, pedestrians, and lots of children.
Cars are getting bigger and stronger, with even more powerful engines; this is because motorists are afraid of getting hurt or killed on the roads; much of this fear is also caused from cyclists and pedestrians, as motorists do not want their paintwork scratched or covered in blood, it is a lot harder cleaning a large 4x4, then cleaning a smaller car, or even cleaning a cycle, or even a pedestrian having to send their clothes for dry cleaning etc.
In time, due to global warming, due in turn, largely to motor vehicles, all roads will be under water, then the motorists will be complaining about boats and canoes undertaking, and floating on pavements, and not paying road tax or having insurance either etc.
OK you don’t like cyclists? But cyclists do not kill as many people as motorists do, and if one day, one of your children is killed or injured by motorists, you might think differently about cars, larger cars, bigger engines, and even 4x4 running wild on public roads, many people are guilty of selfish and bad behaviour on public roads; the average motorist is by far the worst culprit than any other rood user; and that is a fact of life or death, on our public roads?
Let he without sin, caste the first stone?
- Mickinlondon, london
Exactly - hence why there are so many 4x4s in islington - it literally is off-road country. Cyclists even have their own (cute) traffic-lights across the A1. whatever next ?
- Northlondoner, N8
Dom London
Typical cyclist response, I DONT DRIVE IN LONDON, I GAVE IT UP 3 YEARS AGO.
GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT FIRST PLEASE.
My problem if you read what I wrote, is cyclists on pavements, very very dangerous.
- P Staker, London
Let's just get one thing straight in this predictable war of words between people who ride bikes and people who don't. There are good and bad cyclists. There are good and bad car drivers. Only bad car drivers kill other people.
- Richard Evans, Raynes Park SW20
Well, reading the above comments certainly was a waste of time.
What a load of naive, mindless drivel the anti-cycling crowd come out with, get some perspective the lot of you.
- Jon, London
Just as I predicted. I'm practically an oracle.... Rabid anti cyclists jumping out of the woodwork repeating the same old hackneyed gibberish that follows every press article about cycling...
- Cyclist, London
It is commendable that awards are given to good cycleways and through the encouragement of youth projects it can only help in a broader respect for cycling. London still has a long way to go, to truly be a city that provides a rounded transport system, but each step helps.
- Julian, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Good on the LCC to highlight best practice and recognise positive efforts. A "wooden spoon" award wouldn't go amiss though - some London boroughs leave a lot to be desired.
- Austen, London
sarah-- when you get your political party up and running let me know and i will be the first one to join!
- Josh, london
Cyclists SHOULD pay tax! They SHOULD pay insurance! They're the WORST things on the road! Only last week my granny was run down by a BIKE and is now on life support!
- Motorist No.2, London
I think I am going to start a political party with just one aim and I'm going to call it G.C.SOUP. This stands for GET CYCLING SCUM OFF OUR PAVEMENTS!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
A load of red light-jumping cyclists were getting pulled by plod in Fleet Street this week. I haven't had such a laugh since I found out about Mr Jacqui Smith's porn habit.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
I think the scheme in Cambridge should be introduced in London. All cyclists without lights, and there are many, get a fixed penalty which includes a set of decent lights.
- Steve M, London
Cyclists around Lancaster Gate, Bayswater road and inside Kensington Gardens are nothing short of reckless,arrogant and with no respect for pedestrians.
Many seem to think there is one law for others and one law for them. They are also very lazy, Instead of taking the one way system around Lancaster Gate, many like the pavement and with no regard to the pedestrians. As for the park, completely ignoring all the signs saying "no cycling" they speed along the pedestrian paths causing fear, especially for the dog owners. Yes, dogs in Kensington Park and Hyde Park have been killed by these arrogant urban guerillas.
- Dep, London
In order to accommodate "Cyclist, London", I thought that the cyclists favourite road was Chancery Lane from the wrong direction.
- Bj, East London
P-Staker, Seeing as you like to stereo type all cyclists, I'll put you in the group of typical motorists. Always think you're the best thing on the road, always in a hurry, will never give way to anyone, drives while using their mobile, drives after a couple of drinks, park wherever you like & then have the cheek to moan at traffic wardens, don't indicate, always going faster than the speed limit, parking on the pavement....etc, etc. I could go on all day. Motorists like you are the worse for causing problems on the roads, yet they think they are the bees knees. All motorists are the lazy scum of the earth, you know the stuff that gets stuck on your wheels after you've cycled through it.
- Dom, London
this is a pathetic wast of money. cyclists are nothing short of a public nuisance. they are reckless, disobedient lawbreakers. they should be forced into regulation - carry a licence, pay taxes and pay insurance.
- Josh, london
Here we go. Cue lots of comments from the rabid anti motorists and pedestrians. Pedestrians should look out for cyclists when cycling on pavements motorists should try to prevent cyclists trying to kill themselves by undertaking lorries etc.
Truth is that cyclists are being funded by the taxpayer by their demands for cycle only areas that work against the rights of disabled pedestrians. Cyclists demand that pedestrians look out for them but how do blind people know if it is a cycling area if they are on the pavement, teach the guide dog to read? Those less mobile, such as injured solders and pensioners have to dodge these fully fit mobile louts that deliberately drive, often at high speed, towards the unwary less able. Clearly children are right up their in their targets as they should know better on a pavement, specially those between the ages of two and five and of course when cycling on pavements pregnant mothers are always fair game.
The comment "Awards organisers hailed the capital's coming of age as a serious cycling city" highlight the selfishness of cyclists against pedestrians ability to safely walk the streets. These reckless comments clearly focus only the rights of the cycling minority against pedestrian majority to their determent.
We demand pedestrian only areas - with absolutely no cyclists so that we can walk in safety.
- James, London
Agar Grove is only free of traffic because it's so rough the cars fear to drive there! Any cyclist who makes it to the other end of Agar Grove still in possession of their bicycle (and wallet and phone) deserves a medal.
- Some Londoner, London
I'm glad someone commented on the appalling state of many of the roads in the capital. Potholes and incompetently-fitted manholes/drain covers are a real danger for cyclists. The state of the roads in Islington, Hackney - and in fact most of the parts of London I've cycled in - is a disgrace. I cycle in many of the same areas as I've seen Boris, so I can't believe he hasn't experienced it for himself.
- Ben, London
It's a pity they don't try to do something about cyclists on pavements, rather than wasting money on "judging" best cycle roads.
Cyclists are scum of the earth, like the stuff you find on the bottom of your shoe, after you've trodden in it.
- P Staker, London
Cyclists should NOT pay tax! They should NOT pay insurance! They're the BEST things on the road! Only last week my granny was run down by a CAR and is now on life support!
- Cyclist No.2, London
Cycling helps give better health so reducing the NHS costs, takes cars off the road so more space and frees up parking. The London Cycle Campaign should focus on making cyclists wear hats, have bells and use good night lights.
- Andrew, London
Cyclists should pay tax! They should pay insurance! They're the most dangerous things on the road! Only last week my granny was run down by a cyclist and is now on life support!
- Motorist, London
Mr Port is correct, and its a problem for both drivers and cyclists. I'd single out the angel section of Upper Street and Highbury Hill, which are both riddled with potholes.
The latter is more like a street in Mogadishu than one of the wealthiest cities in the world!
- Grassy Knollington, London
Here we go. Cue lots of comments from the rabid anti cyclists - they should pay tax! They should pay insurance! They're the most dangerous things on the road! Only last week my granny was run down by a cyclist and is now on life support! etc etc... Blah, blah, blah...
- Cyclist, London
Islington by coincidence also comes top in the capital for having the worst roads for motorists.
Finding a flat piece of tarmac to drive over is almost impossible in the borough, the constant assault on my cars braking and suspension system not to mention the attack on my back and spinal column makes driving in Islington a health hazard.
- Mr S.Port, London
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