This week’s tube strike is a reminder of something we already know: walking, wheeling and cycling are essential to how London moves.
This morning I had the pleasure of welcoming colleagues, campaigners and planners to Guildhall for the London Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Conference, co-hosted with Hackney Council.
I opened the day by sharing how we’re adapting the Square Mile:
📊 Here’s what the data tells us:
• Motor traffic in the City has fallen 70% since 1999
• Cycling is up 500% in that period. 57% since 2022
• Walking and wheeling now make up 85% of peak-time travel activity
• Use of dockless bikes and scooters has quadrupled in two years
3.7 million people can access The City in 45 minutes on public transport, and 6.4 million in under an hour. It’s the most sustainable place in the Country to build and to work.
We’re responding with:
✅ A major transformation of St Paul’s Gyratory
✅ A Healthy Streets Plan for Fleet Street, guiding improvements in the area, often in partnership with developers
✅ 1,500+ spaces for dockless cycles
✅ New planting, tree cover and seating
✅ 31 local street schemes — and growing
These changes are backed by our long-term vision: Destination City, the City Plan 2040, and a planning system that supports growth, sustainability, and liveability.
🚧 We’re also balancing it all with freight, servicing and access — using smarter delivery models and requiring consolidation for new developments.
💬 Thank you to all our partners, speakers and delegates who are helping to make London a more connected, more inclusive city.
Photo credit: Tom Sleigh