Transport for London (TfL) is encouraging Londoners to explore the capital by bike with a new ‘Cycle Sundays’ initiative.

The initiative provides a range of support, including leisure routes, cycling discounts, training and tips on how to cycle safely

The scheme is designed to provide Londoners, including those that are new to cycling, with a range of support, including leisure routes, cycling discounts, training and how to cycle safely via the new TfL Cycle Sundays website.

The routes have been selected by TfL and a range of partners including British Cycling, Cycle Sisters, JoyRiders, London Cycling Campaign, Sustrans and Wheels for Wellbeing, and encompass park rides in Greenwich and Battersea, an accessible cycle tour of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a loop through parks in Haringey and many more spanning the capital.

TfL has partnered with Strava for another easy way to access and track leisure routes across London. There will be leisurely, easy-to-follow cycle routes across London for cyclists of all backgrounds and abilities, available in the TfL Cycle Sundays Club in Strava. The app, which is free to download, shows maps in real time directions and enables users to track their route length, see the route difficulty level, elevation levels and how busy the road is.

TfL continues work on expanding the Cycleway network across the capital to make cycling more accessible to all Londoners. London now has more than 220 miles of strategic cycle routes and TfL also continues to work with London boroughs to deliver more Cycleways, with £19.5m of investment already announced.

Residents and visitors can also hire a Santander Cycle, providing easy and one of the most affordable ways to travel in the capital. The Day Pass allows unlimited journeys under 30 minutes all day from £3. Santander Cycles e-bikes will be available to members for an additional £1 per half hour with the new Day Pass. E-bikes are otherwise available for £3.30 per 30-minute ride for non-members and customers without a Day Pass, or a fare of £1 per 60 minutes for monthly and annual members.

Miranda Leedham, head of customer marketing & behaviour change at TfL, said: “Cycling is not only brilliant for your physical and mental health, but also is a great way of getting around and seeing London. You don’t even need your own bike to take part in Cycle Sundays. With around 800 Santander Cycles docking stations across London, you can start your Sunday by hiring a bike and exploring the city.  We hope that this new programme will enable more people from all backgrounds start cycling and exploring new parts of London.”