Council Plan For Heathrow ' Skycle' Route

Hounslow wants more people to cycle to the airport

A plan for a 'Skycle' route from central London to Heathrow which would go along the A4, is being considered by Hounslow Council.

The Council believes more people would take the opportunity to cycle to the airport-thus cutting out pollution- if there was a designated route and secure cycling hubs at the airport.

Councillor Colin Ellar, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment said: “These routes could be popular to workers, business travellers and those on a short break who may not have a lot of luggage and want to cycle to Heathrow, leaving their bike at a secure cycling hub, instead of driving or taking the tube, taxi or train. 

“If we could get these plans off the ground, these ‘Skycle’ routes would be helpful to Hounslow as the borough suffers from terrible air pollution caused by traffic jams on the A4 to Heathrow.” 

The cycle routes are part of Hounslow’s £50 million recently submitted bid to become one of the Mayor of London’s ‘mini-Holland’ cycling boroughs.   

Hounslow’s plans for cycling to and from Heathrow include: 

• An extension of the proposed ‘Cycle Superhighway Nine’ running from Hyde Park to Hounslow Town Centre to Heathrow Central, via Bath Road and the A4.
• A link largely along the Longford River from Feltham to Terminal Four.
• Links from Feltham via the A312 and Faggs Lane and from Hounslow via Beavers Lane and the A30 to a ‘cycle hub’ Hatton Cross (where cyclists can use free transport in the Heathrow free fare zone). 

Cllr Ellar added: “These plans would help Heathrow become what we think it should be – a better not a bigger airport.” 

For more on cycling in Hounslow or the bid to become a mini-Holland visit http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/cycling  

August 7, 2013