The Corporation has welcomed the biggest increase in cycling in the Square Mile since records began.
Official counts in October 2024 saw a record 139,000 people cycling a day across 30 locations – up 50,000 from 89,000 in 2022. The increase of over 50% marks the largest jump since recording started in 1999.
New data also shows footfall in the City is also up (8%) since the last count in 2022, with people walking, wheeling and cycling now making up three quarters of all observed travel activity and 85% during peak hours (8-10am and 5-7pm).
There are now nearly twice as many cycles as there are cars on City streets during the day and people cycling now make up 56% of all traffic in the peak commuting hours. Cycling levels have more than doubled on four City streets in just two years, with most of the increase (60%) from personal cycling, but dockless cycles have quadrupled since 2022 and now account for one-in-six bikes on City streets.
This increase in cycling in the City follows news from TfL in November that cycling journeys in Greater London have increased by 26% since 2019, with cycling journeys in central London increasing by 12% since 2023.
The rapid changes in traffic mean the City Corporation has hit three key targets six years ahead of schedule. Since 2017 cycling has increased by 70 per cent – the target is 50 per cent by 2030. Over the same timeframe motor traffic has reduced 34 per cent – the target is 25 per cent by 2030. Freight traffic is also down 21 per cent – the target is 15 per cent by 2030.
In 2023/24 alone, Transport for London (TfL) launched 20 new Cycleways routes which have helped to connect an additional 600,000 Londoners to the cycle network. The data aligns with those seen in traffic count data from the four road bridges into the , collected by TfL in 2024.
The four-fold increase in dockless cycling also matches data on journeys starting and ending in the City shared by dockless cycle operators Lime and Forest. Lime state that its users made 16 million journeys during commuting hours in 2024 alone.
Motor-vehicle traffic is down 5% since the last count, which continues its downward trend having fallen by a quarter in the five years since 2019. The data also shows how private vehicles increase significantly at 6pm when the Congestion Charge finishes. 40% of car and private hire journeys occur after 6pm and the busiest hour for car traffic on City streets is 10pm.
Looking further back, the figures show in 1999 there were more than three times as many motor vehicles on City streets as there are today, and less than one-sixth of the number of cycles.
Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the Corporation, Shravan Joshi, said:
“As footfall across the continues to rise, it’s vital our Transport Strategy ensures that it is a safer and more pleasant environment for everyone to travel through.
“We know this work is making a difference. Our streets are safer with the latest figures showing the lowest number of serious injuries on our streets since records began, but we are not taking our eye off the ball, as there is more work to do.
“Our air quality is improving, too. When we first published our strategy in 2019, 15 locations across the City exceeded our air quality objective for toxic nitrogen dioxide. Last year this figure was down to two.”
London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said:
“Enabling more people to cycle improves health, cuts congestion and helps the environment – so it’s key to the Mayor’s vision for transport.
“I’m really excited about this increase in cycling across the , which is great progress towards our goal of increasing cycling journeys to 1.6 million by 2030.
“The network of cycleways across the capital is continuing to grow, helping unlock safer and more accessible cycling to even more Londoners, supporting the Mayor’s aim for a greener, safer London for all.”
Notes to Editors:
The Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK.
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