Hackney, Islington, and the City of London consistently lead the way in promoting walking and cycling throughout the capital, demonstrating strong commitments to creating healthier, more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly environments. These boroughs have topped various rankings and scorecards for their comprehensive efforts, including extensive cycling infrastructure, low traffic neighbourhoods, and widespread implementation of 20mph zones. Hackney, in particular, has frequently been named London’s best borough for encouraging active travel — combining cycle tracks, traffic calming measures, and innovative street design to foster safer and more accessible routes for non-motorised transport.

The City of London is notable for its advanced provision of cycle tracks relative to the length of its roads, placing it ahead of several neighbouring boroughs such as Enfield, Newham, and Southwark. Meanwhile, Islington has made significant strides by converting all residential roads to 20mph zones and introducing low traffic neighbourhoods, which discourage through traffic and enhance safety for cyclists and walkers alike. Newham is also gaining recognition for its improvements, notably through expanding 20mph zones and creating ‘school streets’ that limit traffic during school hours to protect children and reduce pollution.

Despite this progress, the picture is not uniform across London. Tower Hamlets, for example, has been critiqued for regressing in its promotion of active travel, with a notable increase in private car use despite a generally low level of car ownership. Boroughs such as Bexley, Havering, and Hillingdon remain heavily car-dependent, ranking at the bottom for healthy streets and active travel initiatives. These areas exemplify ongoing challenges in tackling entrenched car culture, which hampers efforts to reduce traffic and improve air quality.

Calls for further ambitious initiatives are growing louder, with advocates emphasising the need for more car-free days, safer family-friendly cycling routes, and increased implementation of low traffic neighbourhoods. Reviews of cycling infrastructure show progress in boroughs like Southwark and Hackney but also stress that many London boroughs still lag significantly behind in providing safe, continuous, and connected cycleways. Transport for London’s recent unveiling of numerous new cycling routes across all boroughs aims to address some of these gaps, expanding accessible cycling infrastructure in areas including Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, and Hammersmith & Fulham.

As London continues to evolve, these developments underline the importance of sustained investment and strategic planning to meet the growing demand for active travel. The contrast between leading and lagging boroughs reveals the ongoing need to prioritise pedestrian and cyclist safety and convenience, crucial factors in fostering a healthier, more sustainable urban environment.

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Source: Noah Wire Services