THE Green mayoral candidate has slammed Bexley Council for failing to give cycling safety a high enough priority after visiting the borough on bike.

Jenny Jones particularly criticised the lack of advance stop lanes, which protect cyclists at traffic lights from being hit by cars and lorries.

She said: “Bexley Council does not seem to have a clue about the importance of cycling. The council could do with a really good briefing on the value of walking and cycling.

“More people would get in their bikes if the roads were safer.”

Ms Jones says she plans to write to Bexley Council and Transport for London about the issue.

Councillor Peter Craske, Bexley cabinet member for public realm and community safety, said: “Cyclists in Bexley are perfectly capable of getting around without expensive schemes put in place. We are working with the Mayor to make improvements where they are needed.

“There are cycle lanes across the Borough which are hardly ever used.”

Ms Jones was also keen to find out whether the “Smarter Travel” scheme, which encourages residents to get out of their cars and onto bikes, would work in Bexley.

There are currently no plans to introduce the scheme, which was launched in Sutton in 2006 and resulted in a 75 per cent increase in cycling.