Four new Cycleways to be launched across London over the next month
Transport for London, in conjunction with the London Boroughs of Southwark, Enfield, Waltham Forest and Camden are to launch four new Cycleways across the capital in the coming month.
The routes will be the first in London to be signed as Cycleways, which is the new name for London's network of cycle routes.
The new routes, which will add more than 20km of protected space to London's cycle network, include an extension of the Cycleway 6 route at King's Cross, which was officially opened on 12 September.
Following a complete overhaul of the junction between Judd Street and Midland Road, which had one of the borough's worst safety records, cyclists can now safely cross Euston Road to reach King's Cross and St. Pancras stations. Upgrades to the pedestrian crossing at the junction have also taken place.
The Cycleway has been extended north to Kentish Town via Pancras Road and Royal College Street, connecting neighbourhoods in north London to two of the country's busiest train stations.
Three new Cycleways are to be completed in the coming month:
C20 between Enfield Town and Palmers Green - This new route will add 10km of protected space to London's cycling network and is an important link in the TfL funded Cycle Enfield programme.
C17 between Elephant & Castle and Burgess Park - A 2km route in the London Borough of Southwark, which connects neighbourhoods in SE17 to the Cycleway network. This route connects to Cycleway 6 via Quietway 1 in the borough.
C23 between Lea Bridge and Whipps Cross - A new route in the London Borough of Waltham Forest which adds 8km of protected space to the network, including a complete overhaul of Whipps Cross roundabout. The new route is part of the transformative Enjoy Waltham Forest programme.
Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “These four new high-quality Cycleways will make it easier and safer to cycle - enabling many more Londoners to cycle across our city. “Our new Cycleways branding will help people to navigate our network of routes confidently for everyday journeys, helping clean up our toxic air.” Enfield Council's Cabinet Member for Environment & Sustainability, Cllr Guney Dogan, said: “There is clear evidence that Cycle Enfield is beginning to enable change.
“Data from our cycle counters showing an average increase of cycling levels of 52% along the C20 route when comparing figures from 2016 and 2018 and a significant 11,866 trips through Palmers Green in July 2019 alone. “With the support of TfL and Enfield Council's Healthy Streets team, we are building a sustainable transport network to support and connect our town centres, encouraging people to adopt healthy and accessible forms of travel into their everyday lives.” Councillor Clyde Loakes, deputy leader of Waltham Forest Council and Cabinet Member for the environment, said: “Lea Bridge Road is the flagship route of our £27million TfL funded Enjoy Waltham Forest programme, which is making it safer and easier for our residents to make their journeys by bike, whether they're heading to the local shops or commuting into central London. “On C23 we have created 8km of high quality segregated cycle track, as well as improved more than 60 crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, created a new pocket park and planted almost 200 new trees. “Whipps Cross is no longer an accident waiting to happen, the new interchange is much safer for all road users with dedicated crossings for pedestrians and cyclists as well as segregated cycle lanes and a bus interchange which is ready for further expansion of services, making it easier for people to get to the hospital, Epping Forest or head off elsewhere.”
All new and existing routes must meet TfL's strict new Cycling Quality Criteria to be signed as Cycleways. Cycling in London is at record levels with the average daily total distance cycled exceeding 4 million kilometres for the first time last year. The Mayor's Cycling Action Plan, published last December, set out how TfL would work to double the number of cycle journeys over the next six years.
Construction on a number of major new Cycleways is either under way or set to begin this year. Work on Cycleway 4 between Tower Bridge and Greenwich began in June, whilst work on Cycleway 9 between Brentford and Olympia is planned to start later this year. Construction work also continues on Cycleway 34 between North Acton and Wood Lane. TfL is also transforming a number of outdated and intimidating junctions across London to make them safer for people walking and cycling, with construction under way at Old Street and almost complete at Highbury Corner.
Image Source: TfL
