Cycleways - As easy as A to B
Getting on your bike is a great way to explore London. The cycleway routes, including Cycleway 17 from Elephant and Castle, make it safe.
- 26 Feb 2020
London’s network of cycle lanes has been updated and expanded in recent years to encourage safer cycling that will help reduce pollution, ease crowding on public transport and enable more people to gain from its health benefits.
Once known as Cycle Superhighways and Quietways, these routes link communities, businesses and destinations across London in one big network. By 2024, there should be 450km of new Cycleways – meaning that 28 per cent of Londoners will live within 400 metres of one.
Understandably, safety is a big concern for cyclists, especially those who aren’t as confident on two wheels. But Cycleways are two-way lanes, kept separate from vehicles, with their own junctions and bus stop bypasses – all cutting the chance of road injury.
In Elephant Park, there are more than 3,000 cycle spaces available for residents, as well as 90 new hire bikes going into the scheme for the wider public to use. It couldn’t be simpler for pedals to power you to your destination.
Opened in autumn 2019, the closest Cycleway to Elephant Park is C17 – a 2km route connecting Elephant and Castle to Burgess Park, and linking neighbourhoods in SE17.
East Street Market – one of London’s oldest and busiest markets and a great place to pick up a bite to eat or have a browse – is on the route. And Southwark’s largest park, Burgess Park is a great spot to visit, whether that’s for a trip around the lake or a spin on the national standard BMX track.
With sustainability high on every agenda, getting on our bikes is an easy way for us to help the environment. And we can help ourselves stay fit in the process. Surely, that’s a win-win?
In his transport strategy, London Mayor Sadiq Khan outlined his aim for 80 per cent of all trips in the capital to be made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2041. The Cycleways provide a safe and scenic way to help achieve this.
For more inspiration on where your bike can take you across London, click here.
If you want to find out more about cycling groups or where to buy a bike read this.
Details of other Cycleways accessible from Elephant Park can be found here.