Transport for London and Southwark Council have finished work on Lower Road in southeast London, completing the latest section of Cycleway 4 which enables safe cycling from London Bridge to Greenwich and means TfL has quadrupled the Cycleway network.
With Cycleway 4’s completion, TfL and London boroughs will have expanded the strategic cycle network from 90km in 2016 to over 360km by this month’s end. This expansion has increased accessibility, with nearly a quarter of Londoners now living within 400m of a high-quality route. As a result, daily cycle journeys rose by 20% to 1.26 million in 2023 compared to 2019.
Along with this, TfL has introduced a new day pass for Santander Cycles, offering unlimited 30-minute journeys at £3, enhancing affordability. This summer, TfL plans to add 1,400 new e-bikes to the scheme, more than tripling the current availability and further expanding cycling access.
Since 2016 there has been vital work done to expand Cycleways across the capital, including new routes and extensions. Key network expansions 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, enabling continuous cycling between the M25 and the City of London
The new segment of Cycleway 4 on Lower Road features 1.3km of protected two-way cycle lanes, connecting previously completed sections on Jamaica Road and Evelyn Street, and a new signalised pedestrian crossing outside Southwark Park has been installed to enhance pedestrian safety. Cycleway 4 links central London and Greenwich, connecting to Cycleways 10 and 14, featuring eight new and 28 upgraded pedestrian crossings and six Santander Cycles docking stations along the route.
£19.5m of investment has been announced which is dedicated to TfL delivering more high-quality cycling schemes. The funding will be used to complete Cycleways between Lea Bridge and Dalston, between Deptford and Deptford Creek and Hammersmith and Kensington Olympia as well as progress the design and delivery of Cycleways across Bexley, Harrow, Hounslow, Newham and Redbridge.
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. Its completion also means the Mayor, TfL and London boroughs will hit the milestone of quadrupling the size of the strategic cycle network from 90km in 2016 to over 360km by the end of this month.
“Improving our infrastructure and making cycling as accessible as possible for accessible Londoners lies at the heart of the Mayor’s vision for a safer and greener London for everyone.”