Road rule changes could see traffic lights automatically turn green for cyclists - 'Farcical!

Hal Stevenson, policy director for Lime, suggested that introducing the new rules in London could improve safety for all road users.

It follows an announcement from Transport for London that buses would have priority at all 3,500 traffic lights in the capital by the end of the decade.

Mr Steven supported the announcement, adding that these rules should also apply to cyclists, saying bike riders "shouldn't be left on red".

He highlighted how cycling accounts for one in five trips in central London, while peak times often see cycle traffic exceed the number of cars.

Mr Stevenson told MyLondon: "Despite this, signal timings remain set around motor traffic speeds, which can lead to frequent stopping and less smooth journeys for people on bikes.

"Rethinking how traffic lights are timed could be a natural next step in building on that success."

Data from 2024 shows that cycling journeys are up 26 per cent compared to 2019 levels, with around 1.3 million daily trips taking place.

The strategic cycle network is now longer than 400km, up from just 90km in 2016, with the network being longer than the London Underground.

The Mayor's Transport Strategy aims to ensure that 70 per cent of Londoners live within 400 metres of the capital-wide cycle network by 2041.

The plans also aim to have 80 per cent of journeys made by walking, cycling and public transport, with a stretch target of all Londoners having at least two 10-minute periods of active travel each day.

Mr Stevenson noted that other European cities, like Amsterdam and Copenhagen, had successfully integrated cyclists into the transport network, and that London could do the same.

"'Green wave' technology, which rewards cyclists travelling at a safe, consistent speed with a sequence of green lights, has improved safety and rider behaviour while reducing journey times at relatively low cost," he said.

However, the proposals have been slammed by critics, with one expert describing it as "farcical", noting that it would not improve traffic levels, which are among the slowest in the world.

A recent study from TomTom found that London was the slowest capital city in the world, with it taking three minutes and 38 seconds to drive 1,000 metres in the centre of the city.

It ranked second overall across the world, falling only behind Barranquilla, Colombia, where the average driver loses 162 hours during rush hour every day.

Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, told the PA news agency that people who use rental bikes are "incentivised" to take additional risks on the road because of the time-based prices.

He added: "Has it not occurred to them that some people either can't or don't want to cycle? It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them."

He added that the "white, middle-class cycling lobby had become "obsessed" with removing vehicle traffic from roads.