Traffic lights in London should automatically turn green for cyclists to help speed up their journeys, according to Lime’s policy director.

The majority of traffic light systems in London are fitted with sensors that detect buses approaching. They then turn green sooner to let them pass or stay on green for longer, says the BBC.

Hal Stevenson said if cyclists were also included in the scheme, it could improve rider behaviour and encourage more people to cycle.

Transport for London (TfL) has said it takes cyclists into account when it reviews signal timings and it wants everyone to travel as “safely and efficiently as possible”.

“Cyclists shouldn’t be left on red,” Stevenson wrote in an article for news website MyLondon. “These lights should also allow cyclists to pass through without waiting.”

“Cycling now accounts for up to one in five trips in central London, with cycle traffic at peak times exceeding cars,” Stevenson added. “Despite this, signal timings remain set around motor traffic speeds, which can lead to frequent stopping and less smooth journeys for people on bikes.”

Last month, TfL unveiled plans to extend the current system for buses to give them priority at all 3,500 traffic lights they pass on their routes by 2030.

While this work is under way, lights should be re-timed to prioritise cyclists, Stevenson said.

TfL has heavily invested in cycling in recent years, extending the cycle network in London from 55 miles (90km) to more than 267 miles (431km) between 2016 and 2025.

“Rethinking how traffic lights are timed could be a natural next step in building on that success,” Stevenson said.

“Other leading cycling cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam show what’s possible.”

(Picture: Alena Kravchenko)