If you go on a cycle ride and don’t record it on Strava, did it even happen? Lovers of sharing their exercise on social media will be thrilled to hear that TfL is launching new Strava cycling routes for every London borough. On yer bikes!
In a bid to encourage Londoners to trade four wheels for two, TfL has launched Cycle Sundays with Strava routes to go with it. These routes are designed to be cycled at leisure and not for commuting – riding to work with a double decker up your backside and a white van on your right is a different story.
The new routes have been carefully selected by TfL and a range of partners including British Cycling, Cycle Sisters, JoyRiders, London Cycling Campaign, Sustrans and Wheels for Wellbeing. Routes include tours of London’s best parks like Greenwich and Battersea as well as routes through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Marshes and Ally Pally.
TfL is encouraging riders without their own bikes to hire Santander Cycles – a day pass allows unlimited journeys under 30 minutes from £3. Plus, with a new Day Pass, Santander Cycles e-bikes will be available to members for an additional £1 per half hour. E-bikes are otherwise available for £3.30 per 30-minute ride for non-members and customers without a Day Pass, or a fare of £1 per 60 minutes for monthly and annual members.
Anyone can become a member by creating an account for free here or through the app.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘I’m committed to enabling more Londoners to experience the joys of cycling in the capital. That’s why I’m delighted to support Londoners who are new to cycling, or who haven’t got their bike out of the shed in a while, to give it a try on Sundays. TfL is offering a range of cycling discounts and training, as well as highlighting leisure routes people can use in their local area.
‘Those who don’t have their own bike can hire one from the 800 Santander docking stations dotted around the capital and take advantage of the Day Pass, allowing unlimited journeys under 30 minutes from £3. I hope this exciting initiative encourages more Londoners to get out cycling, and incorporate active travel into their daily lives.’
Here’s the full list of new routes promoted by TfL in each London borough, as well as the partner that helped put each route together.
Barking & Dagenham
- Eastbury and Parks Tour (British Cycling)
- Dagenham’s green spaces (British Cycling)
- Barking Park Figure of 8 (British Cycling)
- Tour of the Parks (British Cycling)
Barnet
- Oak Hill Park Fun (British Cycling)
- Barnet at its Best – by Bike! (British Cycling)
Bexley
- Bike Loop from Barnehurst
Brent
- Discovery route from Brent Civic Centre (London Cycling Campaign)
- Dollis Hill to City of London (London Cycling Campaign)
- Graceville via canal to the Collective at Old Oak (JoyRiders)
- Tour of Brent Parks from Kilburn (JoyRiders)
Bromley
- Norman Park Dash (British Cycling)
Camden
- Hampstead Heath Link (British Cycling)
- Back and Forth Across the Heath (British Cycling)
Croydon
- A Wander round Wandle Park (British Cycling)
- Tram and Lake Loop (British Cycling)
- Let’s Hit the Parks! (British Cycling)
- Wandle Trail (Sustrans)
Ealing
- S1 Northfields and Syon Park (London Cycling Campaign)
- S2 Ealing and Acton (London Cycling Campaign)
- S3 Southall and Greenford (London Cycling Campaign)
- S4 North Ealing (London Cycling Campaign)
- Dr Who Trail (British Cycling)
Enfield
- River Lea Discoverer (British Cycling)
Greenwich
- Greenwich to Woolwich (London Cycling Campaign)
- Tower Bridge to Greenwich (Sustrans)
Hackney
- Golden Circle (Sustrans)
- Dalston to Harringay Green Lanes (London Cycling Campaign)
- Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Cycle Tour (British Cycling)
- Millfields Park Return (JoyRiders)
Hammersmith & Fulham
- Boat Race Ride (British Cycling)
Haringey
- Ally Pally and the North London Heights (London Cycling Campaign)
- Loop de Loop Through the Parks (British Cycling)
- Haringey to Walthamstow Wetlands (Cycle Sisters)
Havering
- Follow the Leader (British Cycling)
- Romford Ride through Raphael and Lodge Farm Parks (British Cycling)
- Historic Byeways and Greenways (British Cycling)
Hillingdon
- The Uxbridge Lido Cycle (British Cycling)
- Town to Country Adventure (British Cycling)
Hounslow
- National Trust Osterley Park and House (British Cycling)
Islington
- Parks and stadiums old and new with a trip through the woods (British Cycling)
- From St P to Vicky P (British Cycling)
Kingston
- A Trip to the River (British Cycling)
- Hampton Court to Kingston (TfL Cycleway)
Lambeth
- South West London Commons (British Cycling)
Lewisham
- Deptford Family Ride (London Cycling Campaign)
- Chinbrook Meadows Loop (British Cycling)
- Forster Memorial Park (British Cycling)
Merton
- Romford Ride through Raphael and Lodge Farm Parks (British Cycling)
- The Wandle Trail (British Cycling)
Newham
- Let’s Roam – Traffic Free Loop (Newham Council)
- Let’s roam – Roding Valley Way (Newham Council)
- Let’s roam – South of the River (Newham Council)
Redbridge
- Redbridge cultural tour (British Cycling)
- Fairlop waters family ride (British Cycling)
- South Redbridge Parks Tour (British Cycling)
Richmond
- New Crane Path/Thames Path (London Cycling Campaign)
- Palaces of West London (London Cycling Campaign)
- A Taste of Ham (British Cycling)
Southwark
- Southwark Park Ecology Trail (British Cycling)
Sutton
- Beddington Park (British Cycling)
Tower Hamlets
- Bow Locks Bash (British Cycling)
- Waterways to Wapping (British Cycling)
Waltham Forest
- Hollow Ponds Return (JoyRiders)
- Coppermill Circle (Waltham Forest Council)
- Murder and the Orient (Waltham Forest Council)
- Planes, Bikes and Automobiles (Waltham Forest Council)
- A wander down the hill (Waltham Forest Council)
Wandsworth
- King George’s Park Pootle (British Cycling)
- Battersea Park Loop (British Cycling)
- Mordern to Tooting (London Cycling Campaign
You can find all the specific routes and information on how to join the TfL Cycle Sundays Strava Club on TfL’s website here.
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