Elephant & Castle and Southwark Bridge to be linked by Cycle Superhighway

The two pilot routes, which will be up and running in May 2010, are from South Wimbledon to Bank via the A24 and A3, and Barking to Tower Hill via the A13 and Cable Street.

Mr Johnson first hinted that Elephant & Castle would be on a Cycle Superhighway in February whilst he was being quizzed by London Assembly member Val Shawcross at Mayor's Question Time.

The Elephant & Castle route is expected to use the existing cycle bypass via Churchyard Row, Elliot's Row, Princess Street and Ontario Street before heading north via Southwark Bridge Road to the City.

"I'm not kidding when I say that I'm militant about cycling, and these Superhighways are central to the cycling revolution I'm determined to bring about," says Boris Johnson.

"No longer will pedal power have to dance and dodge around petrol power – on these routes the bicycle will dominate and that will be clear to all others using them.

"That should transform the experience of cycling – boosting safety and confidence of everyone using the routes and reinforcing my view that the bike is the best way to travel in this wonderful city of ours."

Although it seems that Mayor's Superhighway will not send cyclists via the two roundabouts at the Elephant & Castle, the Mayor said last week that "improvements for pedestrians and cyclists are key objectives" of the recently agreed redesign of the southern junction.

The Mayor added: "TfL is currently reviewing the existing signage for the bypass and plans to implement any remedial measures required by the end of this financial year, if not sooner.

"TfL has also been working with Southwark to identify more substantial improvements for cyclists along the bypass route."

Last week the Mayor responded to a question posed by Lambeth and Southwark London Assembly member Val Shawcross who asked Mr Johnson whether the new Superhighways would be segregated from other road traffic.

"Cycle Highways will offer many benefits to cyclists, including providing safe, direct, continuous and visible routes," said the Mayor. "They will be clearly marked and easy to identify. It is not intended however that they be segregated along the full length of the route."

The Mayor is spending £15 million on the Cycle Superhighways project in the current financial year with £45 million earmarked for next year.

Another ten routes are being developed between now and 2012, with each route covering between 10 and 15km.

The Mayor has been criticised by opposition politicians and cycle campaigners for cutting spending on the long-running London Cycle Network project in favour of his Cycle Superhighways and central London bike hire scheme.