Cathedrals ward councillor Geoffrey Thornton has written a letter to the Editor of the Evening Standard following its article about changes to cycle routes around Blackfriars:
 

Dear Editor

It’s true that “Southwark doesn’t appear to have considered cyclists’ needs at all” in creating cycle lane diversions around Blackfriars (“Give cyclists their fair share of the road”, 13 November). Whatever the legitimate safety concerns to support the closure of this section of the National Cycle Network, the way the decision has been made and communicated is completely unacceptable.

Southwark is ripe for a cycling revolution – and by TfL’s own analysis has the second highest cycling potential of any borough in London. However the council has set a rather measly target for just 5% of journeys to be undertaken by bike in 2025. To put this in context, some London boroughs are achieving higher than 5% already. At the next full council meeting in Southwark later this month, I will be calling for the borough’s 2025 cycle-use target to be lifted to a more ambitious 20%.

Cllr Geoffrey Thornton
Liberal Democrat councillor for Cathedrals Ward, Southwark