Cycle paths in Ealing and London – the government boasts, but what’s the real picture?

For several years London authorities and the government have regularly boasted about the expansion of cycle paths. We hear about the “record growth of the Cycleways network”, hundreds of kilometres of new routes, and more people switching to bikes. It sounds impressive. The question is what this actually looks like day-to-day in Ealing and west London.

What is said officially
Transport for London (TfL) reports that the official Cycleways network has grown from around 90 km in 2016 to over 400–430 km by 2025. Daily cycle journeys in London have reached a record – about 1.5 million. Authorities emphasise that well-protected paths reduce injury risk, and Ealing Council has its own ambitious Cycle Network Plan (approved in 2025) that aims to connect the borough with safer routes in the future.

What the reality looks like
Data from the Healthy Streets Scorecard for the most recent year showed something less convenient: TfL did not build a single new protected cycle track on its own road network (the TLRN). Most new kilometres are delivered by the boroughs, and the pace is uneven and often piecemeal.

In Ealing the situation is typical of many western boroughs. The council has a network plan (dozens of kilometres of “core” and “neighbourhood” routes), but funding remains limited. In one recent LIP programme only around £0.65 million was allocated to safer cycle routes – against an estimated cost of tens of millions for the main routes. Local cycling campaigners say progress is simply too slow and the network still has large gaps.

There are also quality issues. A London Cycling Campaign report on after-dark safety found that a significant portion of London’s Cycleways (including sections in west London) are rated “socially unsafe” – poor lighting, isolation, lack of “eyes on the street”. In Ealing residents also report conflicts on paths shared with pedestrians (especially near schools) and problems with fast e-bikes.

Collision statistics are mixed. Authorities point to a fall in fatalities, while some figures show a rise in serious injuries among cyclists. There are also local controversies where, after a cycle lane was built, reported collisions did not fall and in some cases increased.

What this means for Ealing residents
Cycle paths are being built, but more slowly and less coherently than official announcements suggest. Many sections are good and well used. At the same time continuity is still missing, full segregation from motor traffic is incomplete, and a sense of safety – especially after dark and on routes to schools or stations – remains an issue.

The government and TfL talk about kilometres. For the everyday user in Ealing the picture is more often an incomplete network, variable build quality, and continuing concerns about safety. Progress exists, but it is still a long way from the image of a finished, safe network for everyone.