London councils to share £95m for safer roads and new cycle routes
"The latest funding will support the expansion of London’s Cycleways network, the installation of additional pedestrian crossings, and the introduction of more School Streets schemes to restrict traffic outside schools at key times of day."
The cynic in me wonders how the councils will use this money to make cars go fast; but I have to reminding myself it's not the USA.
Transport for London signs contract for 65GWh of solar per year
"TfL currently uses about 1.6 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity each year, making it the largest single electricity consumer in London. Once operational, the solar installations could supply up to 65,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electricity each year — equivalent to roughly two-thirds of the Victoria line’s annual power consumption."
Housebuilding in London has collapsed to record lows
"Nobody is against high building standards, safety or support for local infrastructure. But botched implementation and a failure to anticipate how policies would interact have created a perverse situation where it is no longer economical to build homes in one of the world’s most prosperous and desirable cities."
- Financial Times, which has weird rules about sharing article links
Risk of injury while biking in London drops dramatically
“Analysis of our last full year of verified data in 2024 shows that the risk of being killed or seriously injured while cycling in London decreased by 23 per cent from our 2010-14 baseline, while the risk of being killed while cycling has more than halved."
The city also intends to address the problem of useless traffic signals at Oxford Circus by pedestrianizing the area.
London's West End streets could become a vast new public plaza under latest plans
"The plans would see Regent Street St James’s pedestrianised, and Haymarket converted into two-way traffic.
Further south, at the junction with Pall Mall, they propose pedestrianising Waterloo Place, the wide open area filled with statues and grand buildings."
Hammersmith Bridge: Where did 25,000 vehicles go?
This is a super careful and comprehensive analysis of what to do with this bridge that's no longer able to carry vehicles.
"9,000 of those journeys have vanished - not diverted to other crossings, but simply evaporated. Yet the local economy has adapted, air quality has improved, and overall traffic congestion has lessened."
https://nickmaini.substack.com/p/hammersmith-bridge?ref=ben
London: New Elizabeth Line trains in service this year
"Last October Transport for London (TfL) announced work was underway to build 10 Class 345 Aventra trains in Derby. The Elizabeth line already accounts for one in six UK rail journeys, but TfL expects it to be even more popular once the HS2 Old Oak Common station opens in Ealing."
Sadiq Khan update on date 10 new Elizabeth line trains will enter service
Eskimos have 100 words for snow, but Londoners have...
Man, 79, dies following collision in Rayners Lane
I am appreciative of Harrow Online and how it reports on the number of people in Harrow being killed by cars, but I have to say the number of them makes me really nervous. Is this how many people are being killed in every district, or is Harrow particularly dangerous? 😬
https://harrowonline.org/2025/12/23/man-79-dies-following-collision-in-rayners-lane/
TfL confirms there are no extra-terrestrials on the London Underground
"After checking their records, TfL replied with a refreshingly straightforward answer: they do, in fact, hold the information – but that none of it involves little green men, flying saucers, or intergalactic commuters tapping in with a futuristic multipass."
But they would say that, wouldn't they?
London's other sewage scandal
"Misconnections occur when toilets and other appliances such as showers, sinks and washing machines are illegally plumbed into the sewer meant for rainwater. Sometimes it’s done on purpose by builders as a cost-cutting measure. Sometimes it’s done out of laziness. Sometimes it’s just pure ignorance."
https://www.londoncentric.media/p/misconnections-london-river-thames-pollution-crouch-end
London bus speeds ‘worst we’ve seen in 40 years’
"If buses in London increase their speed by an average of 1mph, it could save up to £200 million per year and generate additional revenue of £85 million from increased passenger numbers as a result."
Look at that picture. Probably 200 people in buses taking up two thirds of the space, and 20 people in cars taking the rest. More bike lanes, fewer car lanes is the answer.
https://harrowonline.org/2025/12/11/london-bus-speeds-worst-weve-seen-in-40-years-assembly-told/
Million dollar idea: Secure bike lockers in the middle of London that you can rent by the month.
Transport minister Lord Hendy doesn't understand transport
"On some occasions (cycle lane) design has reduced bus service speeds, with a detrimental effect on overall journey times.”
Cycle lanes are not the main cause of bus delays given congestion on the city’s roads and other impacts on journey speeds such as road works.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/cyclists-cycle-lanes-bus-slow-journey-london-b1261201.html
London driver screams at mother biking her kids to school
"Within seconds, the car screeched to a halt in front of me, which made us stop in the middle of the road too. I clocked the face of the man driving the car, contorted and furious.
‘You’re a bad mother,’ he screamed, ‘it’s disgusting and irresponsible that you’re putting your children at risk.’"
Funny how these clowns wouldn't dare talk to a male that way.
Heathrow expansion would undermine hard-earned air quality progress in capital
London Assembly Environment Committee: “A new runway at Heathrow would undermine progress made in London on air quality, reversing recent improvements, conflict with London and the UK’s climate goals, and expose many more Londoners to harmful levels of aircraft noise, with negative implications for health, wellbeing, and London’s green spaces.”
Work begins on major Harrow to Pinner Cycleway project
"The improvements include safer junctions, upgraded crossings, and new greening throughout the route. Some of the biggest changes will take place along Station Road in North Harrow and Marsh Road in Pinner, with additional works planned through West Harrow.
In Harrow Town Centre, work will involve lighting, signage and other upgrades"
https://harrowonline.org/2025/12/02/work-begins-on-major-harrow-to-pinner-cycleway-project/
Maureen Rose has owned Taylors Buttons for over 50 years - a small haberdashery filled to the brim with buttons.
'Taylors Buttons still continues to be a favourite with the Royal Family, including Queen Camila and King Charles. The haberdashery is also a popular place for London's art and fashion students to purchase handmade buttons for specialised designs. One time, Maureen was asked to make a set of buttons out of paper for an art student.'
'I spent years making 1 thing for the late Queen - it was a pleasure'
The hidden chemical attack that forced the Northern line’s extraordinary repair
"Thirty years ago, an entire section of the Northern line had to be replaced because it was under attack from acid, and all the work was done without the public ever noticing. Even today, it’s a little-known feat of very clever engineering that was needed to fix a problem that had been set in motion some 50 million years ago."
Geographically accurate map of London's underground
https://foi.tfl.gov.uk/FOI-0525-1920/London%20Connections%20Map.pdf
Traffic measures causing ‘deep and lasting division’ in Brent neighbourhood
Same ol' same ol' as far as I can see. Restricting cars on one road gets the people on nearby roads, who don't understand reducing demand, up in arms. The difference from the US is that they're actually trying it rather than doing studies.
Brent council is going to do some traffic counts, so I wonder if that will make any difference.
Camden Council's plans for its "Liveable Neighbourhood" initiative
"The Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood campaign aims "to transform Holborn into a place for people with attractive, healthy, accessible and safe streets for everyone" which includes "clean air, more plants and trees, and beautiful new and improved spaces. We want it to be easy and fast to get around by sustainable and healthy types of transport."
"Mind-blowingly good" cycle lane proposals unveiled by local council
The most astonishing and destructive thing never to happen to London
"Imagine walking out of Camden Town tube station, turning north towards Camden Market and finding yourself facing a twelve-lane concrete motorway full of roaring traffic. This was the intended outcome of the 1960s Ringways plan to drive four giant circular roads through the capital"
https://www.londoncentric.media/p/london-ringways-urban-motorways-unbuilt-roads-first-map
South London Low Traffic Neighbourhoods will become permanent, decreasing traffic and improving air quality
"East Greenwich resident Kate Middleton praised the scheme for making roads safer for the young people in her area. She said: "Over 1,000 children walk to school more safely, more healthily and more pleasantly than they have done in the previous 6 years."
LTNs to be made permanent as council vows to sort out boundary roads
Cities on the World’s Best List are Putting People First Not Cars
"London, Paris, and New York City — and they are all leaders in prioritising the, ahem, humble and beautiful bicycle...cities that are not only thriving economically and culturally, but are also setting the standard for creating living cities—places that prioritize livability, sustainability, accessible transit, and active transportation like cycling."
https://momentummag.com/cities-on-the-worlds-best-list-are-putting-people-first-not-cars/
New West London Orbital route could from from Brent to Hounslow
"Transport for London is planning to transform “underused” railway lines into a new West London travel link, with four new stations. The West London Orbital rail service would run from Hounslow, towards Hendon and West Hampstead in North London. These existing, underused rail lines would then become part of the London Overground network."
Route of new TfL line that could run through West London with 4 new stations
Cycling 'near misses' in London found to be worst at rush hour and on roads without dedicated infrastructure
"The types, locations and causes of cycling "near misses" in London have been mapped using helmet-mounted cameras and GPS devices to track commuter journeys"
I don't think they'd want me to use the voice-activated reporting though, unless they like listening to bad renditions of Bruno Mars.
https://techxplore.com/news/2025-10-london-worst-hour-roads-dedicated.html#google_vignette
Richmond Station cycle hub is only accessible using stairs
"Designed to make it "easier for residents", the council says the travel hub aims to "support a cleaner, healthier and more vibrant town centre," where "people don’t need to rely on cars".
Except, the ground floor of the building has been given over to vehicle parking, with bikes relegated to the floor above - a space only accessible using a staircase."
Waymo is expanding to London with public robotaxi rides coming soon
"Over the coming months, Waymo plans to test its technology on London roads, seeking permission from local leaders. Once that happens, Waymo will be able to begin offering the public robotaxi services using all-electric I-Pace vehicles from UK automaker Jaguar Land Rover. When available, Londoners will be able to hail a ride via the Waymo app."
Waymo is expanding to London with public robotaxi rides coming soon
London’s ‘Superloop’ Buses Seek to Speed Suburban Commutes
"in 2023, when Transport for London launched the so-called “Superloop” — an almost-ring of express bus routes circumnavigating London’s outer districts. The BL1 adds a new spoke to this radial service — one of 10 new loop lines on the way, and the first BRT line to travel in and out of central London."
What could be done to create a safer, and more equitable cycling culture in London?
That's easy-peasy! Ban cars from more roads.
"London’s transport network still prioritises motor vehicles, with London consistently rated lower than other European cities for its amenability to cyclists...a £616 million pledge for walking and cycling in its 2025 spending review, it remains a significantly lower investment than was promised"
How do we create a 'culture of courteousness' within cycling?
A custom cargo bike changed the way this family moves
"Already a car-free family, Adrian’s curiosity for the cargo bike began at the school gates. Living in London, it’s hard not to begin to notice on traffic-calmed streets that there’s a cycling revolution underway and part of that traffic is made up of smiling children, perched on the rear of extended tail cargo bikes like the Velo de Ville Loady."
No word on how to keep it from being stolen.
https://www.cyclingelectric.com/sponsored/velo-de-ville-custom-cargo-bike
28% of Londoners say they are now more likely to cycle in future
"Electric hire bike provider Lime said its bikes' usage was up 74 per cent by the Wednesday of strike week, rising steadily through the first few days as more people turned to their e-bikes to get to work. Average trip duration and length were also up by more than a third...booming bike use has also turned the heads of some who did not use bikes that week."
Here's my big question for expatriates living in #London: How many times do you have to pass through Baker Street Station before Gerry Rafferty stops running through your head?
Took the tube up to Harrow today. Quite nice, reminded me a bit of being back in the States. Wembley Park is a bit posh and Wembley High Road is all about cars, with a tiny bit of space left for a lot of pedestrians.
Meanwhile, the Spectator is all about the Limes.
"I’ve always thought that the Lime bike critics are really saying something else. Like ‘I’m unfit’, or ‘I’m a scaredy-cat’, or ‘I can’t ride a bike’, or ‘I don’t like teenagers’. You must be annoyed to know how easily I glide about the city, envious that I’m writing this just half an hour after leaving the office, the lunatic drivers under the Westway unable to slow my journey."
BikingInLA considers an anti-bike screed
"No bias here. A London magazine says the bicyclist may be a “kindly spirit in the countryside,” but in in the city, “this peaceable phantom has become a bloodthirsty wraith, terrorizing unsuspecting pedestrians, and refusing to follow the laws of man or motorcar.” Just wait until someone tells him about cars, and the careless and aggressively bloodthirsty people who drive them."
Ok, now I think this TfL transportation #strike has gone too far.
Lime bikes in London
The most worthwhile phrase of the article is the last one: "Perhaps e-bike injuries and pavement clutter are issues, but higher up the priority list are poor infrastructure, the number and size of cars, and air quality. 'Lime bike leg' is catchy, but not the whole reality of cycling in London."
I think I will have to make coffee plans for my new flat. I like drip coffee perfectly well, but should I try something different in my limited space? What's the best way to make coffee in London?
London to 'be more like Barcelona and Paris' with outdoor dining plan
"Any potential downsides to al fresco dining in the four areas it has currently been rolled out in had already been addressed.
Blocking traffic from passing through streets and allowing consumers to dine outdoors could raise new challenges with both vehicle congestion and criminal activity"
Congestion won't be a problem due to the reduced demand effect, though.
London to 'be more like Barcelona and Paris' as 4th outdoor dining spot unveiled