Bishopsgate scheme ‘supporting thousands of safer cycle journeys each day’

Image: TfL

TfL has launched a six-month public consultation into the future of a major walking and cycling scheme on Bishopsgate.

The consultation comes on the back of new data which suggests that the scheme has led to an improvement in bus journey times and is ‘supporting thousands of safer cycle journeys each day’.

In August 2020, TfL introduced a series of temporary changes along the road as a response to the pandemic, which were designed to make it safer and easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport.

The changes implemented included new restrictions on vehicles using the road on weekdays between 7am and 7pm to ensure that there was enough room for people to cycle on the road safely.

Wider footways were also constructed along the corridor to ensure social distancing and a number of banned turns were introduced along the road.

The TfL data shows that ‘very high’ numbers of people are using the Bishopsgate scheme to cycle – up to 8,000 people per day.

Meanwhile, the performance of buses on the Bishopsgate corridor has ‘significantly improved’ since the changes were introduced. Northbound bus journey times along Bishopsgate are 38% lower now than they were before the pandemic, with southbound journey times 26% lower.

In December 2021, TfL decided to retain the scheme with a new ‘Experimental Traffic Order’, which could last for an 18-month period.

The consultation, which runs until 25 July, will supplement TfL’s monitoring of the experimental scheme and help TfL to decide what the future of the Bishopsgate scheme should be beyond its 18-month experimental period.

Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “These changes have made a huge difference to the way people travel along Bishopsgate. It has become safer and more comfortable for both pedestrians and cyclists, and bus journey times have also reduced thanks to the new vehicle restrictions on the road.

“As we aim to get more Londoners walking, cycling and using public transport, schemes like this are vital to ensure that people feel safe enough to do so. We want to hear what others think of this scheme, so please do have your say.”


28 January 2022