TfL: London’s cycleways have quadrupled in size since 2016, authority says

London’s cycleways have quadrupled in length since 2016, Transport for London (TfL) has said, following the completion of a new route.

TfL says the cycleway network has expanded from 90km in 2016, when Sadiq Khan became mayor of London, to over 360km by the end of this month.

Speaking in Surrey Quays on Wednesday, Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “I’m delighted that work on Cycleway 4 is now complete, meaning people cycling can travel more easily and safely from London Bridge all the way to Greenwich.

“This marks a massive milestone for London more generally. We’ve quadrupled the size of the cycle network across the city. 

“This is having a huge impact on people. More and more people are cycling because they feel safe because of the infrastructure. We now have about 1.26 million bike journeys being made on average on a daily basis across London. That’s good for our health and that’s good for our city.”

The new section of Cycleway 4 on Lower Road includes 1.3km of protected two-way cycle lanes, linking the previously completed sections on Jamaica Road and Evelyn Street. 

In addition, TfL confirmed a new £3 “day pass” for Santander Cycles and an additional 1,400 new e-bikes to be added to the scheme this summer.

TfL data shows that the number of daily cycle journeys has increased to 1.26 million in 2023, a 20% rise compared to 2019.

Since 2016, major additions to the Cycleway network include:

• C4 between Tooley Street and Greenwich
• C9 between Hammersmith and Kew Bridge
• C17 along Rosendale Road in Lambeth
• C24 between Tottenham Hale and Walthamstow
• C38 between Angel and Finsbury Park
• C42 between Ilford and Barking Riverside
• Work to complete the ‘missing section’ of C1 between Edmonton and White Hart Lane.

In the coming 2024/25 financial year, £19.5m of additional funding will complete cycleways between Lea Bridge and Dalston, Deptford and Deptford Creek, and Hammersmith and Kensington Olympia.

It will enable cycleways planned in Bexley, Harrow, Hounslow, Newham and Redbridge to progress to the next stage.

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Helen Cansick, TfL’s head of healthy streets investment, said: “The new section of Cycleway 4 is the final piece of the puzzle connecting London Bridge all the way to Greenwich.

“Since 2016, the size of the cycle network in London has quadrupled. This is testament to the work of the Mayor, TfL and London’s boroughs and enables even more people to safely travel around the capital by bike, including those in greater London. We'll continue to work closely with boroughs to connect even more of the capital to our high-quality cycle network."

Jakub Mamczak, senior campaigns officer at London Cycling Campaign, said: “London Cycling Campaign has campaigned for Cycleway 4 for decades. We’re so happy to see it finally open. Even before the Lower Road gap was closed, you could see thousands of people cycling on it that would never have done so before.

“Already cycle journeys in London match up to a third of all Tube journeys. We’re looking forward to the next routes coming from the Mayor, TfL and all boroughs so London can truly become a cycling city.”