TfL confirms completion of cycleway between London and Greenwich

Cycleway 4 introduces a “major” new route between Central London and Greenwich, and the new section connects Rotherhithe, Surrey Quays and Deptford on the route.

Transport for London (TfL) and Southwark Council have completed work on Lower Road in south east London, finishing the new section of the Cycleway.

The new section of Cycleway 4 on Lower Road features 1.3km of protected two-way cycle lanes, which connects the previously completed sections on Jamaica Road and Evelyn Street.

Alongside the new Cycleway, a new signalised pedestrian crossing has been installed outside the entrance to Southwark Park, in an effort by TfL to “improve” pedestrian safety and accessibility.

Cycleway 4 also connects central London and Greenwich, with further connections to Cycleways 10 and 14, and has eight new and 28 upgraded pedestrian crossings along the route in total, along with six Santander Cycles docking stations. 

The new addition will allow cyclists to commute safely all the way from London Bridge to Greenwich and marks a significant increase in the size of the cycle network, which has grown from 90km in 2016 to over 360km by the end of March 2024.

Additions to the network 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 
• Work to complete the 'missing section' of C1 between Edmonton and White Hart Lane, enabling continuous cycling between the M25 and City of London 

And it appears that the network is being well used, as data from TfL has revealed that the number of daily cycle journeys has increased to 1.26 million in 2023, up by 20 percent since 2019.

Jakub Mamczak, Senior Campaigns Officer at London Cycling Campaign, said: "London Cycling Campaign has campaigned for Cycleway 4 for decades. We're so happy to see it finally open.

"Even before the Lower Road gap was closed, you could see thousands of people cycling on it that would never have done so before. 

“A connected and coherent, safe cycle network is the vital next step for our city to take to enable Londoners to embrace cycling as a healthy, clean, sustainable transport mode - already cycle journeys in London match up to a third of all Tube journeys.

“We're looking forward to the next routes coming from the Mayor, TfL and all boroughs so London can truly become a cycling city." 

London’s cycle system has grown by 270km in the last eight years and means that nearly a quarter of Londoners will now live within 400m of the network.

Additionally TfL has also launched a new day pass for Santander Cycles this week, allowing unlimited journeys under 30 minutes all day from £3, with plans to add an additional 1,400 e-bikes to the scheme this summer.

TfL has also pledged to work with London boroughs to deliver further cycling schemes, announcing £19.5m of investment with work set to take place over the next financial year.

This funding will complete Cycleways between Lea Bridge and Dalston, Deptford and Deptford Creek, and Hammersmith and Kensington Olympia.

The funding will also progress design and delivery of Cycleways across Bexley, Harrow, Hounslow, Newham and Redbridge.

Helen Cansick, TfL's Head of Healthy Streets Investment, said: "Our continued work in expanding the Cycleway network throughout the capital unlocks access to cycling for many more thousands of Londoners.

“The new section of Cycleway 4 is the final piece of the puzzle connecting London Bridge all the way to Greenwich.

"Since 2016, the size of the cycle network in London has quadrupled. This is testament to the work of the Mayor, TfL and London's boroughs and enables even more people to safely travel around the capital by bike, including those in greater London.

“We'll continue to work closely with boroughs to connect even more of the capital to our high-quality cycle network."