Cycling in London

London's Cycleway network has more than quadrupled in length, from 90km in 2016 to over 360km in 2024. Nearly a quarter of Londoners now live within 400m of a high-quality cycling route, and our ambition is for this to become 40 per cent of Londoners by 2030.

London’s boroughs play a central role in Cycleway delivery. We help fund these through TfL, alongside other projects delivering healthier, safer streets. 
 
Major new network additions 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. 

London’s Cycleway network is making it easier, safer, and more comfortable for people cycle, helping increase cycling levels Londonwide. The Cycling Action Plan outlines how the Mayor and TfL work with boroughs and communities, building on success to expand our Cycleway network even further:  

• In central London we’re filling gaps in the existing dense, high-capacity cycle network, tackling key road danger hotspots.  

• In inner London we’re densifying and connecting the cycle network, including investing in orbital routes for travel between town centres. 

• In outer London, we’re working with boroughs to plan new, town-centre-focussed cycle routes, connecting places like schools, stations, and shops.   

We’re helping tackle barriers to cycling being a genuine option for everyone. This includes reducing road danger, improving secure cycle parking access, and working with TfL, boroughs, and communities to promote cycling for all.  

Reducing road danger 

Cycling in London has become significantly safer in the last two decades. We’ve achieved a 43 per cent reduction in casualties per million London cycle journeys, between 2000 and 2022.  

While this is encouraging, road danger concern remains London's greatest cycling barrier. That’s why we’re going further and faster to reduce road danger exposure, by expanding the Cycleway network. Other essential interventions include reducing motor traffic dominance, addressing collision hotspots and lowering speed limits.  

The Mayor and TfL’s Safer Lorry Scheme, Direct Vision Standard, and Safety Permit Scheme for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are also helping improve safety for all road users, particularly vulnerable ones like cyclists. These schemes make lorries and HGVs safer, so they're fitted with mirrors and side guards. Normal vehicles must also meet certain direct vision standards. 

The Vision Zero action plan sets out bold, ambitious plans to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London's transport network. The Mayor aims for no one to be killed in (or by) a London bus by 2030, with all London road collision deaths and serious injuries being eliminated by 2041. 

Making cycling easier

We’re working to make it easier and safer for Londoners to cycle. This includes improving bike access, making journey planning easier and providing more secure parking options.  

Improving bicycle access 

London’s Santander Cycles hire scheme plays an important role in making cycling more accessible and affordable. 

There are over 12,000 Santander Cycles bikes to hire, from around 800 docking stations across inner and central London. TfL has also added e-bikes to the Santander Cycles fleet, boosting green transport options Londonwide.  

You can hire a Santander Cycle from just £1.65 – or get unlimited 30-minute rides with a Day Pass, from £3 a day. 

We’re also working with boroughs, London councils and private companies to make sure dockless e-bike sharing works better for everyone. The Mayor and TfL do not have powers or responsibilities over these services' London operation, but have lobbied the Government for such powers. In the meantime, we are working to increase rental e-bike and e-scooter dedicated parking bays, reducing footway clutter. 

Making it easier to plan journeys 

Planning a cycle journey in London is becoming easier thanks to new wayfinding, on-street signage, and digital tools.  

All London’s high-quality cycle routes were unified under a single brand in 2019, making the network simple and easy to understand and use. This lets Londoners plan and make cycling journeys with confidence.  

We’re also working with TfL and third-party journey planning apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Citymapper to integrate and enhance cycling information and navigation. Updated algorithms help Londoners find (and advance preview) the safest, most appealing cycling routes.  

Delivering secure cycle parking 

Good quality, accessible and secure cycle parking encourages more cycling, supporting economic growth. For example, every cycle parking space square metre means five times more retail spending compared to car parking.  

TfL has funded over 17,000 cycle parking spaces since 2019, with thousands more funded by London boroughs. London now also has almost 5,000 cycle hangars – a 300 percent increase from 2016. This means residential bike parking for over 29,000 Londoners.  

We’re now targeting further improvements, with over 40,000 new bike parking spaces planned on high streets, and in schools, stations and residential areas by 2030. 

Promoting cycling for everyone 

Cycling has been the fastest-growing transport mode over the past 20 years, but sadly not all Londoners have felt included. 

That’s why we’re working with Londonwide partners to break down cycling barriers, giving a more diverse range of Londoners confidence to start cycling. This includes working with schools to encourage students to cycle, providing cycle training to children and adults, supporting grassroots community cycling groups, and focusing cycling communications on under-represented audiences. 

Together with TfL, we promote cycling as sustainable, enjoyable, and healthy transport for everyone. We take an evidence-led approach, focusing on inspiring, informing and influencing Londoners to make more active choices.  

The Walking and Cycling Grants London programme, delivered by TfL in partnership with The London Marathon Foundation, provides grants to help unlock walking and cycling barriers among traditionally underrepresented groups. The programme funds community groups and organisations for up to three years, delivering projects and programmes that remove cycling and walking barriers. This means all communities can enjoy active travel benefits.