Norman Foster's SkyCycle proposal might have potential for electric bicycles

Plans for a network of elevated cycle paths in London just got rejuvenated by the involvement of Sir Norman Foster. The star architect unveiled a series of pictures and data, proposing ten routes running above existing railway lines that could channel up to 12,000 cyclists per hour.

The so-called SkyCycle network would take 20 years to complete and shall span over 135 miles at the height of a three-story building. Estimated costs are at  £220m - and that is only for the first phase, connecting East London with the City around Liverpool Street.

The idea of lifting cyclists above the dangers of the road is not entirely new and has been discussed for London already in 2012, first by Boris Johnson, before being taken up by the architect firm Exterior Architecture.

Now, Foster's office has teamed up with Exterior Architects and Space Syntax for the proposal which has been tentatively welcomed by Network Rail, calling it an "aspiration".
Apparently, it takes a prominent voice like Foster's behind the visionary idea to be discussed in more earnest.

The outspoken cycling-fan told the Daily Mail: 'SkyCycle is a lateral approach to finding space in a congested city. By using the corridors above the suburban railways, we could create a world-class network of safe, car-free cycle routes that are ideally located for commuters.'

However, it does not seem to be more than an idea at the moment with ownership and finance being unresolved matters. The first proposal of 2012 suggested to charge cyclist a pound for using the SkyCycle.
While this does not seem much it still might be a barrier for some. Here, one could wonder how those cyclists not using the SkyCycle but the streets instead might be looked (or honked) at by other road users.

Furthermore, it is at least questionable if 220m GBP for a four-mile stretch of a cycle-path might not be better invested in making actual roads more cycling-friendly.
Rather than ending the "gutter war" by separation, the promotion of safe sharing of the space for traffic and appropriate measurements seem more promising - at least for now.

There are however, elevated cycle paths already in place. The "Hovenring" of Eindhoven, Netherlands, is a working example of an elevated traffic circle.

Another thing the SkyCycle could be useful for is the promotion of electric cycling. While some cycle advocates already raised concerns about the headwinds cyclists could face at the proposed height of the SkyCycle or the steepness of the ramps leading unto it (again, see the Hovenring for solutions), these would not matter as much when riding an electric bike.

Furthermore, an extra road like the SkyCycle could include extra lanes for faster two-wheelers like pedelecs or even s-pedelecs.

For now, however, this seems to be only a visionary dream...


words: Nora Manthey
pictures: Foster & Partners, ipv Delft