SkyCycle, a suspended cycle path built for people

Compared to in Asian cities, countries in Europe are more welcome to the idea of cycling. More people use cycling as primary modes of transport - in the Netherlands, more than 80% of the population cycle regularly. It is reported that 27% of people ride bicycle as their means of daily transport. The cycling culture in the Netherlands is so prominent such that there are actually more bicycles than the population; every Dutch citizen owns about 1.1 bicycles.

In countries like Singapore where there are many expressways, it would be difficult to integrate bicycle routes along such expressways due to the potential danger and safety issues that come in place. It would not be viable to have bicycles and cars to travel on the same lanes, especially during peak hours and during night time. In addition, despite the many park connectors in place that allow bicycles to seamlessly travel within neighbourhoods, commuters are still unable to ride their bicycles on large public roads. Thus, Singapore has not yet found a sustainable alternative to encourage people to permanently switch to using bicycles as their primary mode of transport.

However, project Sky Cycle was proposed in London, where a 220km network of bicycle path is suspended above railway lines.

(source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/04/skycycle-london-bike-highway_n_4540860.html)

London has been faced with the issue of successfully segregating cars and cyclists given the physical constraint of London's streets. With cycling rates increasing more than 170% in the last 10 years along, the safety of cyclists is also a huge concern. Cycling-related incidents within the city has more than doubled since 2006, and it also accounts for more than 20% of deaths and serious injuries on the roads in London.

As a result, a 220km network of bicycle path was proposed to be set up high above London's roads, allowing potential bicycle communicators to cycle with beside London's skyline. More than 200 entrance points within London will provide access to more than ten different cycle paths, with each route accommodating up to 12000 cyclists at a time. The path is also said to reduce time across the city by up to half an hour. The perimeter of the area would reach up to six million people, half of whom live and work within a ten minutes of an entrance.

However, the proposed solution was met with great resistance. Cost is a huge factor in determining whether SkyCycle could begin its construction. The first phase of completion spanning 6.5km along from Liverpool Street Station to East London would cost about $362 million.

Given London's "Cycling Vision" budget to be $1125 million for the next ten years (including initiatives such as education, road safety projects, training and segregated lanes), SkyCycle would take up a significant portion of the budget, thus depriving of more important projects. Since the entire pathway would take twenty years to complete its construction, planners and the public might not think that it would be a practical solution toward the pressing issue on road safety today.

In addition, the proposed bicycle path would not be sheltered. Hence, this would suggest a low utilisation rate during rainy, windy and even colder seasons. In a temperate climate like London, this would mean that the bicycle lanes are probably being fully utilised less than half of the time. Furthermore, permanently segregating bicycle lanes and car lanes might make cyclists less aware of their surroundings. As they are so used to having an entirely lane to themselves on the elevated bicycle paths, they might subconsciously forget to check for traffic and safety when they are on the same level as cars.

Cycling is seen as a social activity, allowing people to bond over the travel journey. Cycling on ground level allows commuters to see the city, explore the little nooks and crannies of alleys and small streets. Putting bicycle paths on elevated roads above the city can potentially turn cycling into a dull and mundane mode of transport where people focus on getting to the destination rather than to enjoy the entire journey.

Hence, rather than spending millions on building an entirely new pathway for bicycles, more should be done to instead integrate bicycles and cars safely on roads. Examples can include lowering the speed limit, or introducing more speed bumps along roads. Having segregated bicycle and car lanes can also significantly reduce cycling-related accidents, implementing more bicycle racks and locks can also increase safety and security. SkyCycle is an interesting solution to promoting safer roads, however it may not be entirely sustainable in temperate climates and in countries where public funding is lacking.


References:
http://europe.hkbu.edu.hk/euap/young_europe/module6/Urban%20cycling_Lesson%20Plan.pdf
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/04/skycycle-london-bike-highway_n_4540860.html
http://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2016/01/skycycle-elevated-bike-paths-concept-london/
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/jan/02/norman-foster-skycycle-elevated-bike-routes-london
http://www.archdaily.com/469780/why-the-skycycle-would-never-work