You can cycle from Canary Wharf in east London to Beckton entirely on quiet streets and protected cycle lanes.
The route is 8km long (5 miles) and makes use of the recently upgraded Beckton corridor path, plus other new protected lanes in the area like the Lower Lea Crossing.
If you find this video useful or you just enjoy watching it please remember to subscribe to the channel and hit the bell icon so you’re alerted to new videos, as I try to post new ones like it every week.
And if you like what the channel is doing and want to support it, you can also contribute to the London Cycle Routes Patreon below. It really helps keep the channel going:
http://patreon.com/londoncycleroutes
You can see a digital map of the route and download a GPS/GPX file to use on whatever device or app you want here:
https://www.komoot.com/tour/3177754948?share_token=azenArTkrk3v8vaLM1sPfkcgXsHywRxcCAE0UwMbC8PmYnzJRA&ref=wtd&t_s=referral&t_cid=route_share&t_ref_username=1603228668167
And you can find a viewer-created and maintained map of all the London Cycle Routes videos here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1h9Hxm57fPvZmcuSXajM_Wu0G0s6f_bs&ll=51.505213496092054%2C-0.1285238120117249&z=12
I also highly recommend the Safe Cycle LDN map for route planning, which is compiled by @SafeCycleLDN on twitter:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XlpvN9R-Wg7qZHyezO8y-eVlftr4e0WX&hl=en&ll=51.516975804561255%2C-0.21828576419061996&z=11
24 Comments
4:18 both of the drivers identifying as cyclists at the lights. I totally agree, I never enjoy this part of C3.
I would have gone along the A13. Would have taken me half the time.
Can't believe the changes for the better in Newham. The embankment between Plumstead Brige and Crossness would make for a fantastic upgrade.
How about a few routes around Bexleyheath or Sidcup 🤔? They're pretty much the next significant town centres out from Woolwich.
As you went so close under the cable car, it might be interesting to mention their cycle policy:
"Bicycles are accepted on the London Cable Car at all times.
Guests with bicycles travel for free on the cable car before 10:30 on weekdays, excluding bank holidays.
E-scooters, e-bikes and e-unicycles are prohibited on the London Cable Car in line with TfL policy."
It is slightly confusing, as TfL policy is to allow folding e-bikes, but all e-bikes are prohibited on the cable car.
Nice to get a discount for choosing a responsible form of transport!
The only time I have used it was cycling from Harwich to my home in SW19, where it was actually a sensible route choice.
Yeah that Newham pedestrian/cyclist split basically needs to be done everywhere, especially routes through parks or public squares. There's a giant space in wood green near the cinema which in practice has loads of bikes milling around everywhere that easily could fit in a bike path. And tbh my controversial move would be that as segregated bike lanes improve, they probably should ban bikes from certain pedestrian routes they dont fit in (read: canal paths).
I wonder if the Greenway timetable will get quicker or slower once Thames Water get taken into administration?
What's your dream cycling infra connection to Canary Wharf? It's not great ATM. Also do you think CWG is slowly joining the 21C on enabling active travel or is it still stuck in the dark ages?
@12:30 that's Newham Council's HQ isn't it? 🤓
@15:02 the Greenway is the Northern Outflow Sewer and belongs to Thames Water not Newham Council 🤓🤓
The Beckton corridor resurfacing could definitely be done on the Stratford Greenway…. but not the one in London. The Stratford Greenway in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire was resurfaced by the county council a couple of years ago and I was hoping for a nice all weather surface like you have in Beckton. But no… they spent several months and many thousands of pounds putting down a replacement crappy gravel+clay surface. The trouble is partly councils seeing Greenways as 'leisure routes', not active travel options.
Great video! Really enjoyed it 🔥
Coincidentally, just as I was thinking ‘this looks a really nice leisure ride’, you mentioned the same. The one feature I really don’t like (not exclusive to this route) is the thin chain for blocking cars at 8:15 entering the Royal Victoria Dock section. It was reasonably obvious to cyclists from your direction of approach but not always that easy to see – until it’s too late! Great video, thanks
My younger self would have thought I ascended to heaven with the advocacy and improvements that have transpired over the last four decades. This channel, along with countless other activists, are making life so much better for multimodal travel in London. Pity that the scooter riders are not so careful on the shared ways. I am sadly no longer on the green and pleasant land to enjoy it daily.
First time seeing your page and immediately subscribed! I know cycling and narrating the route is already exhausting but I think having a mini map on a corner of a video showing your route as you cycle would bring this page to the next level! Nonetheless, still impressive!
Thank you so much for recommending this route! I had no idea it was so charming down by the docks, especially during the summer. Thank you so much for this channel, you are doing the Lord's work!
Not sure CWG will rush to help cyclists – wasn't their CEO a massive objector to the embankment cycle lane as it might possibly delay his drive to work?
(Apologies to my lawyers if I am misremembering, or if they have had a cultural enlightenment since!)
You can also avoid most of the shared walkway next to the docks by taking the slightly longer route along North Woolwhich Road (past West Silvertown) which has an excellent seperated cycle lane thougout. Adds a few mins at most, but I prefer it.
love your content man, youre an inspiration for me to also encourage people to move more by bike in my city. What do you use to record? shots are extremely stable!
keep up the great job, i have no doubts that youre making a difference for the people of London
7:53 The building on the left looks like Count Binface.
Europe consistently gets it right – separate pedestrians and cyclists . . . . USA continues confused mashup of one path fits all walkers, runners and bikes – big mess!
The road leading to nowhere at 7:25 is actually going to be a new development right under the cable car. I think it's supposed to be 20-ish towers and they're also planning to create a walkable path along the water from Canning Town all the way to Royal Wharf (although I don't see where they'll fit that behind the industrial parts around West Silvertown. Oh, and there should be a new DLR station there too.
Since the filming a horrible "bolt-down" modular speed hump has been installed across the west end of Saffron Ave 5:15 – going against most modern UK cycling infrastructure standards (specifically LTN 1/20). I suspect it has been installed by the estate as traffic calming for the long running construction works without consultation.
Any decent cyclist/person would walk their bike along the bridge and boardwalk! And I quote as a keen cyclist! Just because there are no signs doesn’t mean you can’t engage your savvy!
Thanks for this. – From the South East the free silvertown cycle bus delivers you to city hall and Excell – right in the middle of this fine route.