Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Streetsblog USA

Eyes on the Street: London “Cycle Superhighway” Teems With Bike Traffic

Good Morning, London. This is what London's Blackfriars Bridge looks like #cyclesuperhighwaypic.twitter.com/byAMWq1QLz

— Sustrans London (@SustransLondon) May 17, 2016

In case you're looking for a good visual to show how bike lanes can be extremely efficient transportation infrastructure, check out this short video from the UK-based advocacy group Sustrans. It shows rush hour on the Blackfriars Bridge "cycle superhighway" in London on a Tuesday morning.

London has been building out a network of "cycle superhighways" since 2008, but only in the last couple of years has the city started to emphasize physical protection from motor vehicle traffic in its bikeway designs. Here's a look at what the Blackfriars Bridge bike lane looked like before a recent upgrade.

Bicycling in London has risen dramatically in recent years, with bikes now accounting for about a fifth as many trips per day as the Tube, according to Transport for London. In addition to better bikeways, policies like congestion pricing and slow speed zones have made the city's streets safer and more appealing for people to get around by bike.

Hat tip: NACTO, Jacob Mason

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

Monday’s Headlines

The news didn't slow down over the weekend.

July 7, 2025

The Single Most Important Element In Creating Good Cities

A lot of U.S. cities are getting their "right of way" all wrong — and urbanists can help by getting to know this poorly-understood concept.

July 6, 2025

Reclaiming Streets from ICE with Music, Dance, Altars, Mutual Aid, Community, and Resistance

The Mariachi Plaza event was one of four held across LA. Tuesday night. The June 19 abduction of street vendor Emma de Paz from the Hollywood Home Depot was a touchstone of the Eastside gathering.

July 4, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines

A larger than usual headlines stack as we careen towards the 4th of July.

July 2, 2025
See all posts