Transport for London (TfL) will be making its scheme on the A10 Bishopsgate permanent to help more people walk, cycle and use public transport, amid data suggesting that the scheme has led to faster bus journey times and thousands of safer cycle journeys each day.

Data shows that bus journey times have significantly improved since the scheme was introduced and that on average 7,500 people are cycling along the road every day.

In August 2020, TfL introduced a series of temporary changes along the road in response to the pandemic, which were designed to make it safer and easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport. The changes implemented included new restrictions on vehicles using the road on weekdays between 0700 and 1900 to ensure that there was enough room for people to cycle on the road safely. Wider footways were also constructed along the corridor to ensure social distancing and a number of banned turns were introduced along the road.

TfL data suggests that the changes have played a vital role in supporting sustainable travel along the corridor. Data shows that the performance of buses on the Bishopsgate corridor has significantly improved since the changes were introduced, with bus journey times on the corridor two minutes per km faster northbound and one and a half minutes per km faster southbound. TfL data also demonstrates that very high numbers of people are using the Bishopsgate scheme to cycle, with monitoring so far showing an average of 7,500 people cycling on Bishopsgate per day since the changes were introduced, which is up from around 5,700 in 2019. Numbers have peaked at 9,000 cyclists on some days. Provisional safety data also shows a reduction in overall collisions. Enabling more people to walk, cycle and use public transport is essential to a healthier and more sustainable city for all Londoners and TfL remains committed to its Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury on the transport network.

Last year, TfL launched a public consultation into the future of the scheme on the A10 Bishopsgate and if it should be made permanent and received more than 2,150 responses. Enabling more people to use healthier and more sustainable forms of travel is vital to reducing congestion and air pollution.

The decision to make the changes permanent will be followed by short-term upgrades to improve the streetscape, as well as further safety and public realm improvements in future years.

Helen Cansick, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment, said: “We’re determined to ensure that people can walk and cycle safely across the capital and our data suggests that the changes we’ve made along Bishopsgate have played an important role in promoting healthy and sustainable ways of travelling in London. As a result of our bold changes here, it has become much safer for vulnerable road users, and bus journey times have reduced.”

Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “These changes at Bishopsgate have made a huge difference to the way people travel through the area, which is why I’m delighted they’ll now be made permanent. The area has become safer for both pedestrians and cyclists, and bus journey times have reduced thanks to the new vehicle restrictions on the road. Schemes like this support our aim to continue building a safer, greener and fairer Londoner for everyone.”