Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 22 September 2014 (HL1828), why the completion of the east-west cycle highway through St James's Park and around Buckingham Palace has not yet occurred; and whether they will ensure that a safe, direct and segregated cycle route is provided on this route.

The East West Cycle Superhighway is a Transport for London (TfL) led proposal and therefore decisions about it are a matter for TfL and the Mayor of London. The Department for Transport has however been following the progress of this scheme closely.

Her Majesty’s Government understands that the public consultation for The Royal Parks section of the East-West Cycle Superhighway (Hyde Park, St James’s Park and around Buckingham Palace) opened on 9 February 2015 and is scheduled to close on 29 March. This is the second stage of public consultation, and also includes revised plans for Lancaster Gate Gyratory and the junction of Victoria Embankment/Northumberland Avenue. Works on this section cannot be considered until this public consultation is completed. Following consultation, TfL intends to work closely with The Royal Parks to review comments.

The Department welcomes initiatives which improve cycling in London, and which support our cycling delivery plan, published on 16 October 2014. The Department provides an annual grant (£1.781bn in 2014/15) to support TfL’s activities and investments, which include the Mayor’s Vision for Cycling.