The London record cycling surge is now redefining how people move around the capital. Transport for London confirms cycling in the city has hit an all time high, with 2025 seeing more people on bikes than ever. Inner London has led the way, with daily cycle journeys up nearly 15 percent in the past year alone, rising from 650,000 in 2024 to 747,000 in 2025. Across town, the sheer volume of journeys highlights the London record cycling surge, outpacing even the drop in car traffic.
The new figures only reinforce what is visible on city streets. From Hackney to the City, rush hour now means queues of cyclists at traffic lights and bike lanes filled with commuters. In the Square Mile, the London record cycling surge is clear, with 139,000 cyclists counted in a single day at just 30 locations last October. That is 50 percent higher than it was just two years before.
City leaders attribute much of this London record cycling surge to a major expansion of bike infrastructure. Since 2020, more than 51 kilometres of protected cycle routes have been built, plus hundreds of new crossings for people walking and on bikes. In just two years, twenty four new cycleways have opened, linking another 600,000 Londoners to the ever growing network and making bike commuting practical for more areas.
The pandemic played a significant part in the London record cycling surge, pushing people who once squeezed onto the tube or buses onto bikes. As worries over crowds increased, bike shops saw sales spike and racks cleared out. Across the city, dockless electric bikes became a common sight from Bethnal Green to Battersea. City planners responded to the London record cycling surge by quickly installing protected lanes and rolling out low traffic neighbourhoods to reduce through traffic and make cycling safer for everyone.
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But for many, the reasons for sticking with cycling in the midst of the London record cycling surge go beyond safety. There is a genuine joy in it. As residents discovered the freedom and convenience of cycling, thousands adopted it as a routine. For some, it is about health and managing the cost of living. Others notice how the city feels different at street level, closer, smaller, more personal. One commuter said she started biking during the pandemic and now finds it faster, cheaper and the best part of her morning.
Campaign groups say the London record cycling surge is also the result of years of behind-the-scenes effort. Campaigners have spent decades pressing for more bike space and safer infrastructure, raising awareness and demanding change. Recent policies support the London record cycling surge, with increased congestion charges and emissions rules making it less appealing to drive in central London. More people are deciding two wheels are simply easier and more flexible.
Challenges do still exist, even with a notable London record cycling surge. Cycling remains riskier than other ways of getting around, with about 1,100 serious injuries and 60 deaths last year. Theft is another problem, and many outer neighbourhoods lack secure parking or connected cycle routes. Critics say the changes have sometimes come at the cost of local businesses or other road users.
Still, city leaders insist the London record cycling surge brings clear benefits. There is less traffic, cleaner air, and a healthier population. Car use in parts of central London is down by a third compared to before the pandemic. In some areas, bikes now outnumber cars or buses at busy commuting hours. The London record cycling surge makes the city feel decisively different.
And the trend looks set to continue. The official goal is to quadruple cycling from 2010 levels by 2025, and the London record cycling surge shows this target is within reach. With more electric bikes, new cycle streets that prioritise bicycles, and greater business support, cycling seems set to become the preferred choice for even more Londoners.
Visible signs of change are everywhere due to the London record cycling surge. Where bikes once competed with cars and lorries, they now often set the pace. Londoners, businesses, and policymakers are still adapting, but with record numbers of riders and packed bike stands each evening, the London record cycling surge makes it clear the capital’s cycling revolution is here to stay.
If you are interested in how London’s infrastructure is driving these changes, read more in our related article: London’s Streets Transformed: 51km of New Cycle Routes and 400 Pedestrian Crossings Delivered in Partnership
For official information and data on cycling in London, visit Transport for London’s Cycling and Walking page.
