TfL Press Release - TfL and Hackney Council set out next steps for new Cycleway between Lea Bridge and Clapton

Transport for London (TfL) and Hackney Council have set out the next steps for their plans for a new Cycleway cycle route between Lea Bridge and Dalston, which will play a vital role in enabling thousands of people in the area each week to cycle more easily and safely.

In 2019, TfL asked local people to have their say on its plans to make roads connecting local neighbourhoods better for walking and cycling. Plans for the route include:

• An overhaul of Lea Bridge Roundabout, including protected cycle lanes, to make it safer for people to cross this junction
• A protected cycle lane westbound on Lea Bridge Road, to separate people cycling from motor traffic
• A new tree-lined boulevard for people cycling and walking within Millfields Park, with new trees, lighting and improved landscaping
• New and upgraded signalised junctions with facilities for people walking and cycling
• Changing entry to and exit from some roads along the route

The publication of the consultation report was paused while TfL worked closely with the boroughs to adapt the pre-pandemic walking and cycling infrastructure programme into a London-wide response to coronavirus. Sixty-five per cent of people responding to the consultation believed the proposals would enable more people to cycle, while 51% said the same about walking. Enabling more people to walk, cycle and use public transport is at the heart of the Mayor and TfL’s plans for ensuring a healthy and sustainable recovery for people and businesses across the capital.

Feedback from the consultation has been hugely important in ensuring the scheme works for everybody. Changes have been made to proposals in response to this feedback, including adding more trees and making changes to entrance and exit arrangements from side roads.

Construction work on the route is now planned to begin in Millfields Park in the autumn, with work planned to begin on Lea Bridge Road and at Lea Bridge Roundabout in next year, subject to continued Government funding support for TfL. This means that this section of cycle route could be completed by spring 2022.

Recent TfL cycle count data shows that thousands of people continue to make the most of new and upgraded cycle routes and infrastructure across the capital.

Along the upgraded CS7 route in Balham, an average of 3,400 people were counted cycling each weekday in June and July. Meanwhile, on Bishopsgate in the City of London, around 7,300 people were counted cycling on weekdays, with 2,200 people counted along C9 in Chiswick*.

Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “I’m really pleased that construction work on the new Cycleway between Lea Bridge and Clapton is due to begin this autumn. The overhaul of Lea Bridge Roundabout and new cycle lanes will make it much safer and easier for Londoners to walk and cycle and help ensure a cleaner and greener recovery from the pandemic.”

Helen Cansick, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment, said: “We know that there’s high demand for safer cycle routes across London and many areas have witnessed a boom in the numbers of people walking and cycling since the start of the pandemic. This new route between Lea Bridge and Clapton will play a vital role in enabling more of these journeys and I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to give feedback on the plans. We’ll continue to work closely with Hackney Council on our plans to make roads across the borough healthier, greener and more sustainable”

Cllr Mete Coban, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm, said: “Lea Bridge Roundabout has long been hard to cross on foot and hard to cycle around, so we’re really pleased to see these confirmed plans for new crossings and protected cycle lanes along Lea Bridge Road, which were supported in consultation and will make the area safer for everyone.

“Alongside new low traffic neighbourhoods and 40 new School Streets, we’re proud to be working with TfL on rebuilding a greener Hackney.”

TfL is continuing preparation work to start construction on a number of new cycle routes later in the autumn, including routes in Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Hounslow.

Since May 2020, more than 100km of new or upgraded cycle lanes have been built or are under construction, along with more than 22,500 square metres of extra pavement space reallocated for people walking.

New Santander Cycles docking stations were added along Cycleway 4 in Southwark and at Canada Water, Bermondsey and Clapham Common Tube stations in 2020 and TfL is committed to expanding the scheme further across London over the coming years.

These measures mean people are increasingly using bikes to get around their local area and for exercise, with recent TfL data showing cycling has increased by 22% in outer London compared to spring 2019, with a seven per cent rise in inner London.