Capital sees ‘huge uplift’ in walking and cycling

A new report outlines the ‘vital role’ played by walking and cycling in London during the coronavirus pandemic.

TfL’s Travel in London report uses data gathered from travel surveys to calculate the number of trips made using each mode of transport in London.

While the total number of trips made in 2020 ‘decreased dramatically’ as a result of the pandemic, the number of journeys cycled increased by 6.4%.

TfL says this is a remarkable change in the context of lower general activity and major reductions in workplace commuting.

This meant that over the year, cycling accounted for 3.4% of all journeys, up from 2.3% in 2019 – a 48% increase.

There was also a significant increase in the number of trips walked in London in 2020, with the proportion of journeys made on foot increasing from 21% of all journeys to 30% – a 43% increase.

Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “Since the pandemic, there has been a huge uplift in walking and cycling.

“It’s wonderful to see more and more Londoners choosing green and sustainable modes of transport to get around and we will continue to work closely with boroughs to transform our roads enabling even more people to shift their journeys to walking and cycling.”

Responses from people taking part in TfL’s report suggest that many of these changes in travel are likely to persist as London recovers from the pandemic.

In total, 30% of respondents said they are likely to walk more often after the pandemic, compared to 10% who believed they will walk less. Meanwhile, 15% of people stated that they would continue to cycle more frequently after the pandemic.

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