en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) have jointly published the "Walking and Wheeling Action Plan," outlining a pathway for coordinated investment by the Mayor, TfL, and London boroughs to improve the capital's streets over the next decade. The plan will be delivered through collaboration, ensuring that communities across the city feel the benefits of improvements, with the majority of streets managed by boroughs.
TfL will work with boroughs and partners to implement several key measures, including adding 1,000 new pedestrian crossings by 2031 through the TfL Business Plan and borough Local Implementation Plans (LIPs); and expanding the "School Streets" program to benefit approximately 1,000 schools. The plan also commits to developing a Central London Transport Strategy with boroughs and stakeholders, strengthening London's position as a global and economic hub by improving public spaces, enhancing street safety, and providing more space for walking, cycling, and public transport connections.
A new riverside walking route is planned to be completed by 2029, connecting existing paths, parks, and communities through collaboration. Through the "Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) Speed Reduction Program," town centers and high streets will be transformed, with a default speed limit of 20 mph set for central and inner London. The plan also supports boroughs in delivering 50 neighborhood community plans by 2031, making walking the preferred mode of local travel.
Other measures include: addressing pavement clutter and dockless bike parking issues through the "Clean Streets" initiative on the TLRN; improving walking routes to bus stops and tube stations via design guidance and the "Better Bus Partnerships"; and strengthening actions on women's safety and fear of crime, including piloting more CCTV at bus stops, conducting women's safety audits, and nighttime transport assessments for new projects. The plan also commits to creating a new strategic walking route connecting waterways with the "Walking London" leisure walking network by 2029.
Currently, walking accounts for 38% of all journeys in London, but TfL says many Londoners are still deterred by road dangers, insufficient pedestrian crossings, fear of crime, and inconvenient pavements. The plan recognizes the greater barriers faced by disabled people, older Londoners, and certain communities, and addresses inequalities in walking accessibility, supporting the Mayor's vision that by 2041, 80% of journeys will be made by walking, cycling, or public transport.
Several major projects are underway in central London, including the transformation of Lambeth Bridge. Works at the junctions at both ends of the bridge are nearly complete, and work on the bridge itself is expected to be finished in the coming weeks.
Since the Mayor published the first "Walking Action Plan" in 2018, TfL has added a 15-mile "Green Chain Walk" to the "Walking London" network, supported over 100,000 Londoners from diverse communities to walk and cycle through funded projects, and created and improved pedestrian crossings on the TfL road network. TfL and boroughs have expanded "School Streets" to over 800 locations, with nearly half of London schools participating in the "Lifetime Journeys" program and over 1,000 schools achieving Gold accreditation. The proportion of primary school children walking to school has reached 63%, exceeding the original target of 57% and the updated 2026 target of 60% set in 2022.
"Walking is already a core way Londoners get around, but we know too many people are still put off by safety concerns, a lack of crossings, or streets that aren't easy to use. This new plan sets out how we will change that, making everyday journeys—whether to school, the station, or the local high street—easier and more enjoyable. By working with boroughs and communities, we can create streets that are safer, more inclusive, and better for everyone," said Christina Calderato, TfL's Director of Transport Strategy.
"The Mayor and I are determined to make walking the safest, easiest, and most enjoyable way to get around London. This new plan will help us go further in our progress on cleaning up our air and tackling congestion, with record investment to support more Londoners to leave the car at home. Whether it's a trip to the shops or to your local train station, short walks are vital to the health and future prosperity of our city, as we continue to build a greener, better London for everyone," said Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner.
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