Moscow’s ZiL lanes were, and still are, the most hated expression of the privilege of Russian elites. In the grumpy pre-Olympic era, the name was bestowed on the London lanes designated for athletes and members of the International Olympic Committee. It turns out they weren’t really needed. Not only have ordinary drivers kept out of them, so too have many of the Olympians themselves. The unintended consequence is that cyclists have been able to enjoy open roads through the heart of the capital all to themselves. Cycling is already crowned Britain’s national sport, a maker of legends that personify all that makes the sport itself what it is: modest, practical, down to earth and, as it happens, good for you and good for the world around you. It is also safer than most people imagine. The death of a young cyclist right outside the Olympic Park, just as Bradley Wiggins celebrated his time trial victory, was poignant but it is not an accurate reflection of the statistics, which show London getting safer. But if cycling in cities is risky, the fewer people who bike the more dangerous it is. The Netherlands and Denmark are Europe’s safest cycling countries, and also the places where the most bike journeys are made. This is not something that just happens. Every country that increases cycling starts by improving both the reality and the perception of safety with an infrastructure that supports it. London should start now by making “ZiL lanes” into bike lanes: privilege democratised.
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