Transport for London (TfL) has published a report that it says shows a ‘continued boom’ in walking and cycling in the capital, with cycling levels remaining 40% higher than before the pandemic.
The transport authority said that since the start of the pandemic and despite significant financial constraints, it has worked closely with boroughs across the capital to invest in and expand London’s network of Cycleways.
The proportion of people living within 400 metres of a high-quality cycle route is now almost double what it was in 2019, with 22% of Londoners now living near one, compared to 12% in 2019.
Walking levels are still ‘noticeably higher’ than before the pandemic, TfL said.
Before the pandemic, around 35% of journeys in London were made on foot but the latest quarter of available data, for April-September 2022, shows this to be at 41%.
Santander Cycles, which saw record levels of hires during the pandemic, continues to see record hire numbers, with hires at 11% higher than the pre-pandemic level as of late September 2022.
TfL said its Travel in London report also highlights the substantial improvements in air quality over recent years, reflecting the extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone to inner London, with estimated reductions of 20% in NO2 concentrations.
Walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman said: ‘We must continue to make active travel around the city as accessible and safe as possible. That’s why I’m delighted that this year we’ve seen the introduction of e-bikes to the Santander Cycles scheme, we’ve built hundreds of kilometres of new or upgraded cycle routes since the pandemic and completed work to make some of the capital’s most dangerous and intimidating junctions safer.’
TfL said it will continue working closely with London’s boroughs to deliver even more walking and cycling infrastructure in the coming years. It recently announced that it will restart work on paused following the latest funding agreement with the Government.
The report also shows recovering passenger numbers on London’s public transport network. As of October, demand for Tube services across the week was around 82% of pre-pandemic levels, with bus passenger numbers across the week at 84% of pre-pandemic levels. The Docklands Light Railway and Trams are recording around 80% of pre-pandemic patronage and London Overground just below this.
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