LONDON, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- London Mayor Sadiq Khan launched a major action plan Monday to promote cycling journeys in the city over the next six years, including the establishment of a revolutionary cycling database.
Under the ambitious plan, London will create a unified, London-wide cycle network with new quality standards, and tap cycling to help address poor air quality and congestion, improve its infrastructure to make cycling even easier safer and more accessible for everyone.
The plan will also see the launch of a cycling infrastructure database, a comprehensive digital record of all cycling facilities on the streets of the capital city, and the database will be made available to everyone, free of charge, through an open platform.
In 2019, the Transport of London (TfL), which dominates the city's public transport services, will begin using a single brand for all cycle routes, merging the existing ones into a single pan-London network, using simple, easy-to-use signs.
The action plan will significantly increase the number of schools engaged in TfL's free cycle training and travel programs, as well as double the number of adults who receive free cycle training each year.
Khan said: "Getting more Londoners cycling is essential for our city's future health and prosperity, and our new Action Plan launched today shows how we're going to go further than ever before to make this a reality."
"The evidence is clear -- where we've built new high-quality cycling infrastructure, the routes have been hugely successful in getting more people on their bikes. Despite this, too many Londoners still don't have the high-quality cycle routes they need in their local neighborhood," the mayor said.
"I'm determined to ensure every Londoner feels comfortable and safe getting on a bike, whatever their age, experience or background," he said.
Work in London on the routes between Tottenham Hale and Camden, and Hackney and the Isle of Dogs, among others, is due to begin next year.
Khan wants to increase the proportion of people walking, cycling and taking public transport to 80 percent of journeys by 2041, from the current 63 percent.
