East to central London ‘Quietway’ cycling route opens

A 12km cycling route connecting east and central London has been officially opened today (29 August), offering cyclists a ‘quiet’ route into the city.

Quietway 2 connects Bloomsbury and Walthamstow via Angel, Haggerston, London Fields and Clapton, and takes cyclists on a route away from busy main roads along quieter, safer streets.

The 12km Quietway links Walthamstow with Bloomsbury

The opening of Quietway 2 has been described by TfL as a ‘significant’ addition to London’s cycling network, connecting with other routes including Cycle Superhighway 1 in De Beauvoir Town and Cycle Superhighway 6 in Bloomsbury, as well as forthcoming routes such as Quietway 13 at London Fields and Quietway 10 near Angel.

The new route has been delivered in partnership with the London Boroughs of Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest.

Cycling

Commenting on the opening of Quietway 2, Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “We’re striving to get as many people as possible walking and cycling in the capital. Creating these Quietway routes to build a genuinely London-wide network is vital to give more Londoners the confidence to take to two wheels.

Quietway 2 takes cyclists along quieter, less congested routes

“An amazing 730,000 trips are made by bike in the capital every day and I look forward to building on that further through the Quietway routes, which have already helped to boost the numbers cycling in our city. Our focus is on ensuring that Quietways are high-quality, with low traffic volumes and speeds, enabling all ages and abilities to enjoy cycling.”

Another route through central London, Cycle Superhighway 6, will be completed later in the autumn, connecting Elephant & Castle and Bloomsbury, where it links in with Quietway 2.

TfL is also working with the boroughs to improve cyclist and pedestrian access and reduce road danger at number of key junctions across the capital.

Ben Plowden, TfL’s director of strategy and Network Development, said: “London has seen a boom in the numbers of people choosing to walk and cycle and new routes such as these are essential to encouraging more people out of their cars and onto their bikes.

“Cycling improves health, reduces congestion and helps to cleans up London’s toxic air. We will continue to work closely with the boroughs so even more Londoners can take advantage of the many benefits of cycling.”