Tfl offers free buses and bike shuttle bus through Silvertown tunnel

The Silvertown tunnel between North Greenwich and Newham is due to open on 7th April, but has faced opposition since it was first proposed. The tunnel can only be used by cars, vans, buses and HGVs.

Opponents argue that the lack of provision for active travel - walking, cycling and public transport - runs counter to the London mayor's pledge to reduce the number of car journeys in London, in order to clean up air pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve public health.

In the final weeks before the tunnel opens, Transport for London (Tfl) has shifted its attention towards its responsibilities for bus services and cyclists, under the 2018 Development Consent Order. It announced the new services, with the offer of free travel for one year.

However, Simon Munk from London Cycling Campaign, said: "Silvertown will almost certainly lead to increased motor traffic across east London. The extra bus provision and the cycle shuttle bus in that context are greenwashing."

The bike shuttle bus

Tfl says that since cycling and walking through the tunnel is not possible, the bike shuttle is designed to "give cyclists another option to cross the river safely".

The bus is intended to carry most types of "standard cycles" including pedal bikes, tricycles, folded cycles, adaptive cycles, cargo bikes and e-bikes, including hire bikes, but there are size limits on "non-standard cycles".

Ben Knowles, CEO of Pedal Me, told Salamander News that his firm's cargo bikes would not be able to use the shuttle bus, due to its size limits. Knowles said: "We’re frustrated to see yet more provision being made for motor vehicles, while services like ours are excluded."

Cargo bikes were meant to play a key role in the London mayor's Transport Strategy. They offer a clean and low carbon alternative to vans for completing the "final-mile" of on-line deliveries, and for servicing.

"There’s already a gap in access to East London for cargo bikes," said Knowles. "This is caused by the dominance of large-scale motor routes that either ban or make it very difficult for us to operate efficiently."

He added his voice to the calls for repurposing the tunnel, to encourage cycling instead of driving. "Surely, as a minimum, there needs to be access for cycles through one of the tunnel bores to allow fastest possible transit for cycling?"

But even cyclists whose bikes will fit on the shuttle bus had reservations.

"We have been clear from the start that the cycle shuttle is unlikely to be well used," said Munk. "Most people who cycle aren’t going to wait to load their bike onto a bus, much less a cargo bike or trike."

The shuttle bus will run approximately every 12 minutes between 06.30 and 21:30 every day, with a single stop each side of the river.

Free fares for routes 108, 129 and SL4

Free bus fares may get a better reception. Tfl has announced that three bus routes which will use the tunnel will be free for "at least a year":

• the 108, running from Lewisham station to Stratford stations,
• the 129, running between Lewisham shopping centre and Gallions Reach in Beckton
• SL4 - new "superloop" express bus between Grove Park and Westferry Circus.

Tfl confirms that "the fare will be £0.00" on these buses along the entire route, but passengers will be asked to tap in with an Oyster card or contactless card.

Simon Pirani, from the Fair Free London campaign, noted the partial, if temporary, win: "This proves that where there's a will to offer free public transport, there's a way."

This article was amended on 8th April to reference Tfl's obligations under the Development Consent Order (2018) to provide cross-river bus services and cross-river cycle/pedestrian facilities.