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It’s official: London now has more cycle lanes than tube lines

The city’s cycle network is now five times larger than it was in 2016, and TfL says that more Londoners are cycling than ever

Amy Houghton
Written by
Amy Houghton
Contributing writer
Cycleway C51: Burnt Oak to Colindale
Photograph: Eleanor Bentall / TfL | Cycleway C51: Burnt Oak to Colindale
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There’s been a real bike boom in London over the last 10 years. In 2016, the city’s cycleway network only stretched 90km. This week, Transport for London (TfL) announced that in the past decade it has grown to five times that, and that there’s been an estimated 43 percent increase in cycling journeys.  

The capital’s cycle lanes now span a total of 450km. That’s longer than the entire tube network and further than the distance from London to Paris

The latest milestone is thanks to several new additions to the cycleway. An extra 4km was recently added in Islington; 2.5km was added between Camden Town and King’s Cross; a 1.6km link was created between Wandsworth Common and Clapham Common and there was a 0.5km extension along Ewell Road in Kingston. Even more cycleways are planned for southeast London and the northwest of the city

Cyclists on Cycleway 38
Photograph: Nick Turpin / TfLCyclists on Cycleway 38

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: ‘I'm proud to have overseen a dramatic expansion of London's cycle network, making it easier and safer for people across the capital to choose cycling for everyday journeys. I said I'd make London a byword for cycling - promise made, promise delivered.

‘This progress is transforming the way Londoners travel, improving our health and cleaning our air to help us build a greener city.

‘But there is more to do. I”m determined to keep working closely with Transport for London, boroughs and communities on expanding and improving our cycle network so we can create a greener, safer, better London for everyone.’

ICYMI: The Bakerloo line’s ancient trains are finally being replaced

Plus: One of the UK’s greatest hikes is in London

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