Nearly half of cyclists feel unsafe on London’s roads, study suggests

Almost half of people cycling in London say they do not feel safe using the capital’s roads, despite significant spending on cycle lanes and safety improvements, according to findings shared with Transport for London.

Research obtained by law firm JMW Solicitors and reviewed by the Local Democracy Reporting Service indicates that 43 per cent of cyclists in London feel uncomfortable riding in the city. This compares with just over a third in the North West of England who report feeling unsafe.

The data suggests that cyclists in the capital encounter a particularly complicated road environment. Reported concerns include vehicle drivers on narrow streets, bus lanes creating “conflict zones” with larger vehicles, unclear signage and road markings, pedestrians using cycle space, and interactions with other cyclists.

Only 36 per cent of respondents believe their local area provides sufficient cycling infrastructure — among the lowest confidence levels nationally. Meanwhile, just seven per cent of London cyclists ride daily.

However, TfL figures released last year showed that around 1.5 million cycle journeys are now made each day in the capital — a 13 per cent increase since 2024 and 43 per cent growth compared with 2019. London’s dedicated cycle network currently spans 435km, offering protected and often segregated routes for riders.

Campaigners argue that progress still falls short of cities such as Amsterdam. Simon Munk of the London Cycling Campaign told the LDRS:

“London is statistically very safe for cycling and as the network of safe, comfortable, direct cycle routes grows, more and a wider range of people are getting cycling. Daily cycle journeys now make up about half of all Tube journeys.

“But there’s still a long way to go to reach the potential for cycling in London, and the kind of numbers Paris and many Dutch cities do.

“That’s because London’s cycle network is still far too patchy and often too poor quality too. We need a lot more cycle tracks, junction redesigns, crossings, routes through Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and more besides if we want far more Londoners to switch cars for cycling and eliminate fatal collisions from our roads – both of which the Mayor and TfL are committed to.”

Hina Bokhari, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the London Assembly, said the findings “expose a serious credibility gap”.

“When nearly half of London’s cyclists feel unsafe despite billions in investment, something has gone badly wrong,” she added. “A 7 per cent daily cycling rate in a city of this size and investment isn’t a success story, it’s a failure to deliver from TfL and the Mayor.

“Until every Londoner, regardless of gender or background, can get on a bike without fear, we haven’t come close to delivering on this city’s potential.”

Caroline Russell, a Green Party member of the London Assembly, suggested driver behaviour plays a significant role. She said:

“How people drive has a direct impact on whether others feel safe enough to get on a bike.

“Seeing drivers speeding or fiddling with their phones is frightening when you’re on a bike or simply trying to cross the road.”

The survey also found that 55 per cent of cyclists consider dockless hire bikes — such as Lime or Forest — safe for general use.

Andrew Littlemore, Head of Cycling in the Personal Injury Department at JMW, added:

“London has been positioned as a world leader in cycling infrastructure, with dedicated lanes, bike superhighways, and extensive public bike schemes. Yet our research shows that nearly half of London cyclists still feel unsafe.

“The concern about Lime bikes and similar schemes is particularly noteworthy. These services are designed to make cycling more accessible, but if users don’t feel safe, we need to ask whether operators and regulators are doing enough to ensure rider safety and provide adequate training.”

A TfL spokesperson told the LDRS:

“Walking and cycling infrastructure plays an important role in making our streets safer and encouraging more people to walk and cycle across London.

“We’re determined to ensure that everyone can cycle safely which is why we’re investing more than £150m this year to improve London’s roads, over half of which is invested through London’s boroughs. We have so far completed work at 46 Safer Junctions across London, including work that is due to complete in the spring at Lambeth Bridge.

“We also continue to work closely with the boroughs to expand London’s high-quality Cycleways network, which now stands at 435km, up from 90km in 2016 and will be setting out plans for further investment with the boroughs in the coming weeks.”