Newham residents invited to saddle up for the first-ever London Cycling Festival, with guided rides, free bike checks, and family fun promoting active travel and greener, safer streets across the borough.
Newham is set to join the inaugural London Cycling Festival on Sunday 25 May, as the borough embraces pedal power with guided rides and family-friendly activities that celebrate sustainable travel and local community spirit.
The new city-wide festival, organised by the London Cycling Campaign in partnership with Transport for London and 14 borough councils, aims to make cycling more inclusive and accessible. With more than 30 marshalled rides and events taking place across the capital, the day-long festival will transform neighbourhoods into vibrant, car-free zones for residents of all ages to enjoy.
Newham’s Day in the Saddle
Newham’s events will centre around a scenic group ride from West Ham Park to Victoria Park, offering residents a unique opportunity to explore the borough’s most cycle-friendly routes. The ride will pass through the low traffic neighbourhood around West Ham Park, continue along Cycleway 2 via Stratford High Street, and cross the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, showcasing some of the area’s safest and most popular cycling infrastructure.
The day begins with an optional feeder ride from Central Park in East Ham, departing at 10am from the Bartle Avenue park gates and heading to the main ride’s start point in West Ham Park. From there, the guided ride to Victoria Park leaves at 11am, reaching the destination around noon. A return ride is scheduled to depart at 2pm, arriving back in West Ham Park by 3pm, with an option to continue to Central Park.
Participants can also benefit from a free Dr Bike service in West Ham Park (Margery Park Road gate) from 8am to 11am, offering basic safety checks and tune-ups before the ride begins.
At Victoria Park, riders will be welcomed with a lively atmosphere that includes a local food market, smoothie bike demonstrations, and even cargo bike taxi rides—part of the festival’s celebration of alternative, zero-emission transport options.
Encouraging a Culture of Active Travel
Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Newham’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children’s Services and Education, expressed her excitement at the borough’s participation in this new London-wide initiative.
“I’m thrilled this new Cycling Festival is coming to Newham. Creating fun, social, and safe cycling zones is a brilliant way to encourage more people to explore our borough by bike—boosting cycling confidence and cutting transport emissions at the same time.”
Ruiz added that the event was designed with families in mind, and would serve to get children and young people cycling safely with parents and carers, instilling active travel habits early on.
City-Wide Support for Two Wheels
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, hailed the festival as an opportunity to break down barriers and welcome new riders into the cycling community.
“These marshalled rides are a fun way for those new to cycling or less confident on a bike to give it a go alongside others in their community. The Mayor and TfL are committed to making cycling more accessible for all, and we are extremely proud of our work to expand the protected cycleway, which now spans over 400km in length.”
The festival comes at a time when cycling in London continues to grow, supported by major investments in infrastructure and new low-emission transport policies designed to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion.
Tom Fyans, Chief Executive of London Cycling Campaign, also praised the collaborative effort behind the event.
“May’s a perfect time to get out and cycle in your area, and LCC’s inclusive rides mean even if you and your family don’t get out and cycle together normally, you can on 25 May. This is a perfect moment to celebrate London’s amazing cycling together.”
A Day to Celebrate Cycling Culture
As London looks to boost its reputation as a cycling-friendly city, the London Cycling Festival is poised to become an annual tradition, offering a fun, free, and healthy way for communities to connect and explore their local areas.
For Newham residents, it’s not just about the ride—it’s about discovering a greener, more connected way of life. So dust off your helmets, pump up your tyres, and get ready to join the ride.
