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London’s cycling culture is pedalling full speed ahead, with the latest data from Transport for London (TfL) revealing a remarkable 26 percent increase in cycle journeys in the capital since 2019. That’s right, cyclists are hitting the streets in droves – a steady 1.33 million bike rides happen every single day in London, marking a 5 percent rise from just last year.
So, what’s fuelling this cycling surge? TfL attributes the growth to its ever-expanding Cycleway network, which has broken the 400-kilometre mark – that’s more than four times larger than it was in 2016. That Cycleway network is now officially longer than the London Underground!
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said about Londoner’s switch to cycling: ‘It’s a massive uptake in cycling which is bucking all of the national trends.’ Initiatives like the Cycleways expansion, the Mayor’s Healthy Streets approach, and the Vision Zero strategy are clearly hitting the mark.
Looking at the numbers, central London saw the most significant growth, with an 11.6 percent jump in cycling journeys between 2023 and 2024. Inner London followed suit with a 4.2 percent increase, while outer London saw a respectable 3.8 percent rise.
Looking ahead, cyclists can prepare for even more exciting developments, with several borough-led Cycleways set to launch in the coming year, including the Rotherhithe to Peckham route, Enfield to Broxbourne, and upgrades along Deptford Church Street.
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