Wandsworth's newest cycle superhighway was launched this week giving residents added reason to get on their bikes.

Barclays Cycle Superhighway Eight (CS8) is the first of its kind to start in the borough and head all the way to Westminster.

It begins at Ram Street in Wandsworth Town and runs through to Armoury Way, via Wandsworth Bridge, before ending up at Millbank.

Work began on putting the distinctive blue lanes on roads in April and according to Transport for London (TfL) the project has cost between £8m and £11m.

Improvements have been made to infrastructure along the new route to benefit both cyclists and other road users.

Dedicated cycle-only lanes have been introduced along Grosvenor Road and Millbank and a new off-road cycle path has been created alongside the Wandsworth Bridge roundabout.

CS2 from Bow to Aldgate was also launched yesterday and there are now four cycle superhighways in the capital.

Last year, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, launched the first two pilot routes, from Merton to the City and Barking to Tower Gateway to encourage more people to get on to two wheels.

New data released by TfL indicates that since these superhighways were introduced, cycling has increased by 46 per cent along the Merton to City route, and by 83 per cent along the Barking to Tower Gateway route.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's Director for Environment, said: "These vivid blue routes make the world of difference for cyclists on the streets of London, and prove a powerful and visible statement on our roads that assert to every Londoner, whether on two wheels or four, that the capital is a cycling city.

"Our pilot routes have proved a great success with lots more Londoners leaping into the saddle, and telling us they feel safer on the road. I'm confident our new cycle superhighways will prove just as popular."

TfL also offers free cycle training. For further information visit tfl.gov.uk/cycling