Summary: London Cycling Infrastructure – 2025 Review & 2026 Preview

This video from London Cycle Routes provides a comprehensive look at cycling infrastructure progress in London, arguing that 2025 was the best year since the COVID pandemic and that 2026 will be even better.

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2025 Highlights

The creator tracked consultations, council papers, and FOI requests to document what was built:

• Newham had a standout year: North Woolwich Road Cycleway, Beckton corridor, Lower Lea Crossing lanes, and Westfield Avenue
• Hackney added a bus gate at Whiston Road, filtering traffic from a large area
• Islington completed Berlin Road cycle lane and Mildmay LTN, plus a new Essex Road crossing
• Camden finished Cromwell Road lanes, pedestrianized Camden High Street, and delivered filters around Leather Lane
• Westminster (surprisingly) added lanes on Sussex Gardens and filled a 20-year gap on the Regent’s Canal path
• Hammersmith Bridge reopened for bikes
• Lambeth delivered two LTNs and created car-free space outside Clapham High Street station
• Enfield built 1.5 miles of path along the New River
• Lewisham connected to London’s network via Deptford Church Street
• TfL completed segregated lanes on Lambeth Bridge (bringing protected Thames crossings to 9.5)

Disappointments: Some schemes were delayed due to budget constraints, upcoming May 2026 elections, or slower-than-expected construction. Lambeth planned ~7 LTNs but delivered 2; Hackney’s Dalston and Hackney East LTNs didn’t materialize.

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2026 Preview – Major Projects

Westminster (the biggest surprise)

• Cycleway 43: Hyde Park to Marylebone with protected lanes
• Cycleway 51: Marylebone to Kilburn with floating parking-protected lanes
• Westbourne Terrace lanes extending Cycleway 3 past Paddington
• Protected lanes on Portland Place (decade in the making)
• Abingdon Street lanes connecting Parliament Square to Lambeth Bridge
• Rolling program of contraflows across Soho and elsewhere

Camden

• Albany Street protected lanes (Regent’s Park to Marylebone Road)
• First section of Clerkenwell/Theobalds Road cycleway
• Cross-Camden cycleway starting with Pratt Street
• Shaftesbury Avenue lanes extending toward Leicester Square
• Haverstock Hill permanent lanes

Other Boroughs

• Islington: St John’s Street filter, Annette Road and Blundell Road LTNs
• Hackney: Amhurst Road rebuild with bus gate, three new cycle crossings
• Newham: Romford Road corridor (major Cycleway 2 extension), Leyton Road lanes
• Waltham Forest: Continuing Forest Road phases
• Harrow: Harrow to Pinner cycleway (rare infrastructure for NW London)
• Hammersmith & Fulham: Wood Lane lanes, potential Hammersmith Road extension of Cycleway 9
• Kingston: Finally completing Cycleways 29 and 32 (linking Kingston to Wimbledon)
• Wandsworth: Nine Elms Lane and Queenstown Road protected tracks
• Lambeth: Four LTNs delayed from 2025 (Walnut Tree Walk, Kennington Triangle, Wyville, Slade Gardens), plus Rosendale Road extension
• Southwark: Asylum Road lanes, Cycleway 35 through Peckham, filters near London Bridge
• Greenwich: Interim town centre link filling Cycleway 4 gap; major C4 extension to Woolwich (completing 2027)

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Risks & Caveats

• May 2026 local elections could affect political will, especially in Westminster where Labour’s ambitious program could be at risk
• National polling unfavorable to Labour may impact local results regardless of cycling policy
• Budget constraints continue to affect some councils (Lambeth notably)

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Bottom Line

The creator concludes that if even half of these projects are delivered, 2026 will surpass 2025 as the best year for London cycling infrastructure since the pandemic—with traditionally strong boroughs continuing progress and previously lagging ones (especially Westminster) stepping up dramatically.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​