Becca Jones is an Engineer in the GTV视频 London Design team. She鈥檚 been involved in designing some of the London Quietways since 2014.
In the month since the first Quietway opened, connecting Waterloo to Greenwich, I've been finding out how people using it feel about the route. I've met people new to cycling who told me that Q1 had encouraged them to take up riding their bike, as well as experienced cyclists who described how much better their commutes were as a result of the new Quietway.
It's wonderful to hear people talk about the impact the changes have on their journeys and reaffirms how vital it is that we continue to deliver a good network of quiet routes across the capital.
Cheryl听Jimenez听is an NHS Medical Secretary at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in Eltham:
鈥淭he QW1 route is very convenient for me as I live in Waterloo and work in Greenwich.听I had occasionally cycled to work last year but stopped as I didn鈥檛 feel particularly safe or comfortable on busy roads such as the Old Kent Road, and in and around Lewisham.听I tried Quietway 1 recently, and now I feel much more confident about getting back on the bike to commute to work as the route takes me along quieter and safer roads - quite scenic ones too - especially through the听Millwall听link, where there鈥檚 a fantastic view of the London skyline!鈥
Martin听翱鈥橤辞谤尘补苍听rides Q1 from his home in Lewisham every day, joining up with CS7 to get into the city:
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing as there鈥檚 just so little traffic, and it takes you pretty much straight into Borough. What I really like is that there are so few traffic lights, it鈥檚 not stop-start like some routes. I find that you can just enjoy your cycle. It鈥檚 ingenious the way these different sections have been joined up, it鈥檚 just a lovely route. There must be other bits and pieces of the street that they could equally join up to make more lovely routes.鈥
Jacky听Jones听has been using the Millwall path to get from her home in Greenwich to St Thomas鈥檚 Hospital since it opened in Spring this year:
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pleasure to cycle to work. The path cuts out some dangerous junctions and means you don鈥檛 need to cycle down the main road.鈥
Katerina听has tried using Q1 to get from Brockley to London Bridge:
鈥淚 was looking for a quieter route home, and I鈥檇 heard about Q1 being launched so I tried it out. The smoothness of the route is probably the best part, and I鈥檒l be using this route again.鈥
JohnMc Grath听is a new London cyclist, commuting from Beckenham to London Bridge:听鈥淚鈥檝e only been using this route for a few days. I鈥檇 been putting off cycling for years but I鈥檝e just last week started cycling to work and find this route quick and straightforward. I鈥檝e been quite surprised, I鈥檓 quite enjoying it. 鈥
Rich听Barnes听had been using the route to get from Peckham to Old Street for several years, but has experienced huge benefits since the Q1 improvements have been completed:听鈥淭he improvements have been huge. Before the improvements, I felt exposed when crossing major roads, but now we get the green light earlier and it acknowledges the fact that cyclists are there. Right the way from Dunton Way and Willow Walk down to The Cut, I used to feel a bit intrusive. I鈥檝e been telling people about all these little changes and what a difference they make鈥.
Jacqui Godfrey听is a London ride leader for British Cycling鈥檚听, which supports women to ride bikes for fun and fitness. Breeze run a range of regular guided rides for women and children.
"I took a group of riders out on Q1 in late Spring. We were a mixed group, including an experienced cyclist and a more nervous rider but we found our way and were happy riders. It鈥檚 been amazing to see this route progress.听The group was impressed by how fast the journey from Waterloo to Greenwich was, and how comfortable it felt riding in largely traffic-free streets and paths.
鈥淥nly one car passed us the whole way back鈥, one said.听
"It is so nice to cycle without having the cars bother you at all鈥.
鈥淚 could bring my children on this route. It would be a great route to build their confidence鈥, said another.
Everyone liked the lovely wide paths, which reminded some of them of cycling in Holland. The riders loved the Great Dover Street crossing just before Tabard Gardens, where Globe Street is closed to traffic, and the lovely planting in the middle is really special.