List of cycle routes in London

For those cycling in, around or across London a network of cycleways called the London Cycle Network exists within the London Metropolitan Area as well as an emerging network of "Cycle Superhighways". Also a number of national and international cycling routes pass through, or originate in, London.

London Cycle Network routes

Examples of route confirmation signage and road markings for London Cycle Network routes.

Other Signage for LCN routes including Directions, Destinations and Distances

Several London Cycle Network routes are signposted with route numbers, depending on whether the route is considered to be radial or orbital and which of four sectors the route is contained within. Some of these routes are also part of the National Cycle Network - these are signposted with route numbers on a red background. The LCN route numbers are broadly grouped as follows:^[1]

The route numbers currently in use with details of the primary destinations served (other destinations are in brackets) are as follows:^[1][2]

Cycle Superhighways

Twelve new bicycle routes, dubbed Cycle Superhighways, were announced in 2008 by Mayor Ken Livingstone,^[3] with the aim of creating continuous routes into central London by the end of 2012. As of 2015 only five cycle superhighways were operational: CS2, CS3, CS5, CS7 and CS8.

Routes

All 14 routes had been mapped^[4] but the originally proposed CS6 and CS12 routes were later cancelled.^[5] Two additional routes were later announced: an 18-mile long East-West Cycle Superhighway, dubbed the "Crossrail for Bikes", and the North-South Cycle Superhighway (co-branded as CS6^[6]).

Cycle Superhighway CS7 start point at Colliers Wood Underground Station

Cycling conditions on CS2 at Aldgate East tube station.

CS2 in Stratford in September 2014

By summer 2016, three further routes are expected to have launched^[5] - CS1 (Tottenham to Liverpool Street), East-West Cycle Superhighway (section from Lancaster Gate to Tower Hill) and North-South Cycle Superhighway (section from Elephant and Castle to Stonecutter Street, near Holborn Viaduct) - in addition to a major upgrade of CS2 between Aldgate to Bow with new segregated cycle tracks along most of this section.^[8]

Implementation and safety concerns

The London Cycling Campaign proposed a manifesto concerning safety, cycle priority and junction design along the Superhighways.^[11] The new Mayor Boris Johnson declined to sign it, but said that TfL would take stakeholders' views into account.^[12]

The implementation of the routes has drawn criticism as being unsafe, for example from urbanist and author Charles Montgomery, who, writing in The Guardian, described them as "inherently dangerous pieces of infrastructure... [that lead] cyclists directly into confrontation with other vehicles".^[13] However, he was writing at the time when the Cycle Superhighways were not physically segregated from the road.

An unofficial photo journey with commentary along the current super highways is available.^[14]

The building of the routes has not been without opposition. On 19 July 2011 the Mayor's office announced the opening of two more cycle superhighways, CS2 from Bow to Aldgate and CS8 from Westminster to Wandsworth.^[15] CS2 was originally being planned to extend as far as Ilford, but was met with opposition by the Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales. Blaming enough roadworks already on Stratford High Street, Sir Robin Wales made the decision to block the route from entering Newham on the grounds of cyclists' safety. The route has since been extended east around the A11/A12 roundabout as far as the Stratford gyratory.

Quietways

TfL are also promoting Quietways which are cycle routes on routes with low volumes of traffic. The first Quietway that will be fully introduced in early 2016 will run between Waterloo and Greenwich, with a total of seven Quietway routes due to be launched by mid-2016:^[16]

National and international routes

Route number design for NCN routes. Unlike local or regional routes, NCN routes use a red background.

National Cycle Network routes

Eight National Cycle Network (NCN) routes pass through London:

• NCN1 (follows the Thames)
• NCN4 (London to Fishguard)
• NCN6 Paddington – (Alperton) - Uxbridge
• NCN13 Purfleet – Rainham – (Royal Docks) – City
• NCN20 (follows the Wandle Trail from Wandsworth - Carshalton, then on to Coulsdon).
• NCN21 (the Waterlink Way from Greenwich - Catford - Beckenham - Addington).
• NCN212: (Beddington Park, Sutton – South Norwood Country Park, Croydon)
• NCN232: (Mitcham Common, Merton – Lloyd Park, Croydon)

EuroVelo and other international routes

Two EuroVelo routes pass through London: these are EuroVelo 2 (dubbed the Capitals' Route, which runs between Ireland and Moscow) and EuroVelo 5 (called the Via Romea Francigena, which runs between London and Rome).

Other international routes include the Avenue Verte route which runs between London and Paris. The Avenue Verte follows the NCN20 for much of the way out of London and crosses the English Channel via the Newhaven – Dieppe ferry.

TfL Cycling Guides

Transport for London publish several cycling maps which cover the following regions (by guide number):^[17]

1. Central London
2. Edgware, Mill Hill, Finchley, Barnet, Wood Green, Enfield, Tottenham, Chingford
3. Northwood, Pinner, Ruislip, Stanmore, Harrow, Wembley, Kenton, Edgware, Mill Hill, Hendon
4. Mill Hill, Hendon, Hampstead, Finchley, Wood Green, Tottenham, Chingford, Woodford, Walthamstow, Hackney, Islington
5. Woodford, Wanstead, Ilford, Romford, Hornchurch, Upminster, Harold Wood
6. Uxbridge, Hayes, Heathrow, Hounslow, Southall, Greenford, Ealing, Willesden, Acton, Chiswick
7. Kensington, Battersea, Brixton, Willesden, Camden Town, Islington, Stepney, West Ham, Poplar, Greenwich, Woolwich
8. Beckton, Barking, Dagenham, Charlton, Woolwich, Plumstead, Erith, Eltham
9. Hounslow, Heathrow, Feltham, Chiswick, Twickenham, Wandsworth, Richmond, Kingston, Surbiton, Sutton
10. Bromley, Beckenham, Crystal Palace, Catford, Lewisham, Streatham, Mitcham, Wandsworth, Kingston, Surbiton
11. Lewisham, Catford, Beckenham, Bromley, Eltham, Bexley, Sidcup, Chislehurst, Orpington
12. Sutton, Coulsdon, Sanderstead, Purley, Carshalton, Croydon
13. Coulsdon, Sanderstead, Purley, Croydon, New Addington, Farnborough, Biggin Hill
14. Hampstead, Tottenham, Wood Green, Stoke Newington, Hackney, Clapham, Tooting, Sydenham

See also

• Cycling in London
• Santander Cycles
• National Cycle Network
• Cycleways in England
• List of cycleways
• London greenways
• Segregated cycle facilities

References

External links

• Transport for London's (TfL)
• TfL Cycling Guides
• London's secret cycle routes
• Sustrans