Request ID: FOI-3303-2223 Date published: 31 March 2023
You asked
I am writing to you, as some of the data that TfL has access to is critical to my research dissertation.
Specifically I would like to get data on when parts of cycle highways were completed/upgraded/worked on. The publicly available data only contains information on the current cycleway infrastructure. When these works have been completed however is not publicly available, but should be. Please provide me with this data as soon as possible, if you can.
And;
The schemes that I am mainly interested in is the Cycle Superhighway scheme, launched around 2007 and all subsequent cycle way construction programmes in the Greater London area (Such as the Quiet ways scheme), that TfL might have data for.
My research concerns mainly protected cycle lanes. These were constructed from 2013 onwards in the Cycle Superhighway programmes, but also in other schemes, after 2017 (as far as I know). Their main feature is that they are either completely separated from car traffic (like CS3, CS9), or car traffic has been tailored such that there is very little contact to cars (such as cycle way 12).
Now I understand that there might not be data on what I would consider a “protected cycle lane”. For this reason, what I want is a list of all the cycle way construction since 2007. The date when they were completed (could be used by the public) and if the completion constitutes an upgrade, renovation or a new project. It would be nice if there was data about what type of cycle way each construction entailed, however if that is not available I probably can do that work myself. The main data that I need, and can’t find is the date when the construction of cycle lanes finished. This is the most crucial part that I need your help with.
Some Superhighways have started out as non-protected lanes, and then became protected ones, such as CS1, CS2 (these were built around 2007, then upgraded in 2013), so I would also need data on when upgrades to the lanes were completed, if that is available.
What my preferred data set would look like a table, where there would be the name of the cycle lane, then date of completion and possibly, if there is data, the type of cycle lane (Protected/Non-protected) (also mentioning if it is an upgrade or a new project). However, If all these are unavailable from Tfl, I would still appreciate if you could point me to some documentation from which I can get these data. (It is really hard to find any concrete information on completion dates for all these schemes). I’m thinking about budget of London, if that includes this, or information on the subcontractors who were building these cycle lanes.
Also if there is any data on what date the announcement was made for these projects, that would be appreciated. This however, is completely secondary, and not all that important as of now.
Clarification received on 06/03/2023: If earlier data is unavailable, I would be happy with the past couple of years’ data, as that allows me to conduct the same analysis (with less precision). However, I do need this data fairly soon. So if you have this data, please send it as soon as possible.
We answered
TfL Ref: EIR-3303-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 22nd February 2023 (as clarified on 27th February and 6th March 2023) asking for information about cycle lane construction.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“The schemes that I am mainly interested in is the Cycle Superhighway scheme, launched around 2007 and all subsequent cycle way construction programmes in the Greater London area (Such as the Quiet ways scheme), that TfL might have data for.
My research concerns mainly protected cycle lanes. These were constructed from 2013 onwards in the Cycle Superhighway programmes, but also in other schemes, after 2017 (as far as I know). Their main feature is that they are either completely separated from car traffic (like CS3, CS9), or car traffic has been tailored such that there is very little contact to cars (such as cycle way 12).
Now I understand that there might not be data on what I would consider a “protected cycle lane”. For this reason, what I want is a list of all the cycle way construction since 2007. The date when they were completed (could be used by the public) and if the completion constitutes an upgrade, renovation or a new project. It would be nice if there was data about what type of cycle way each construction entailed, however if that is not available I probably can do that work myself. The main data that I need, and can’t find is the date when the construction of cycle lanes finished. This is the most crucial part that I need your help with.
Some Superhighways have started out as non-protected lanes, and then became protected ones, such as CS1, CS2 (these were built around 2007, then upgraded in 2013), so I would also need data on when upgrades to the lanes were completed, if that is available.
What my preferred data set would look like a table, where there would be the name of the cycle lane, then date of completion and possibly, if there is data, the type of cycle lane (Protected/Non-protected) (also mentioning if it is an upgrade or a new project). However, If all these are unavailable from Tfl, I would still appreciate if you could point me to some documentation from which I can get these data. (It is really hard to find any concrete information on completion dates for all these schemes). I’m thinking about budget of London, if that includes this, or information on the subcontractors who were building these cycle lanes.
Also if there is any data on what date the announcement was made for these projects, that would be appreciated. This however, is completely secondary, and not all that important as of now. “
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. However, this information has not been collated before and there is no quick or efficent way of doing so. Your reqest is very broad in scope, asking about all “cycle way construction programmes in the Greater London area” over a 16 year period. There is no single source for this information and it would take an excessive amount of effort and the checking of multiple different records and sources to provide it all. The request is therefore being refused under Regulation 12(4)(b) of the EIR as we believe that the request is ‘manifestly unreasonable’. The purpose of the exception is, to cite the guidance from the Information Commissioner (see here) “...to protect public authorities from exposure to a disproportionate burden or an unjustified level of distress, disruption or irritation, in handling information requests.”
The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise the need for openness and transparency in the running of our business and the fact you have requested the information demonstrates that there is in public interest in it. However, the time it would take to provide the information would divert a disproportionate amount of colleague’s resources from their core functions, and on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.
You may wish to narrow the scope of your request to focus on the information that is of most importance to you. I would advise that if you choose to do so that you focus on a specific route or routes, rather than asking for information on all projects. Note further that some of the information you require may already be found in our regular Investment Programme Reports, copies of which can be found on our website here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/investment-programme-report I would advise reviewing that material before considering any further request.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
