Cyclists are now able to travel between Greenwich and Waterloo on traffic free paths and quiet back roads following the opening of London’s first ‘Quietway’ cycle route. 

 

Quietway 1 runs 9km through the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich. It has been delivered in stages since last year and now provides a continuous sign posted route including more than 2km of traffic free cycle paths and improved pedestrian facilities.

 

The project was delivered by Transport for London (TfL) alongside the four boroughs and active travel charity Sustrans.

 

Sustrans deputy director Matt Winfield said: “Quietway 1 provides a direct, quick and safe link from Greenwich into Waterloo, and points between. It is another important step in improving the quality of life and economic resilience in our world leading city.”

 

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “It is important that we make it safer and easier for Londoners to cycle across our city and we want the first of the Quietways to make a significant contribution towards that aim.”

 

TfL’s director of surface strategy & planning Ben Plowden added: “The Quietway programme will help open up a whole new area of London for people walking and cycling and support non-polluting and healthy travel for commuting or leisure.”

 

However London Cycling Campaign infrastructure campaigner Simon Munk expressed some reservations. “Broadly speaking Quietway 1 is of good quality and we welcome its opening,” he said.

 

“But there are some sections which are not ‘quiet’ enough for a Quietway – where cyclists encounter busy roads and junctions. With a few extra fixes this would genuinely enable a lot more people to cycle but as it is there are still some weak links.”

 

Quietway 1 connects with other cycling routes in the area including the North-South Cycle Superhighway and Cycle Superhighway 7. It is the first Quietway route to be delivered, with six additional routes due to be complete by next spring.

 

♦ Transport for London is launching a ‘digital friendly’ version of the iconic Johnston typeface which has been used across the capital’s transport network, including at Tube stations, for 100 years.

 

Designed by calligrapher Edward Johnston, the typeface was introduced in 1916 and has now been updated as ‘Johnston 100’, with subtle changes to make it fit for purpose in the 21st century. This includes introduction of never before designed symbols, such as # and @.

 

(Photo: Sustrans)