London commuters have turned to cycling in record numbers this week as the ongoing Tube strike forces workers to find alternative routes to the office. The disruption has sparked a significant shift in how people navigate the capital.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are staging walkouts until Friday in a dispute over pay and working hours. Tube services have been severely disrupted since Monday, creating widespread travel chaos for commuters, tourists and visitors.
New data from employee benefits provider YuLife shows cycling miles tracked across London have surged by 32% this week, jumping from 3,878 to 5,120 miles as workers embrace two wheels to beat the transport turmoil.
Sammy Rubin, chief executive of YuLife, said: "When strikes disrupt our routines, we're reminded just how much control we do, or don't have over our daily lives. What's encouraging is that so many people are turning to movement as a way to cope. A 32% rise in cycling shows how willing Londoners are to take their wellbeing into their own hands when given the nudge."
Additional transport disruption
Workers on the Docklands Light Railway also went on strike on Thursday, adding another layer of disruption to London's transport network. The industrial action has compounded the challenges facing travellers across the capital.
No talks are currently planned between the RMT and London Underground to discuss the operator's rejected 3.4% pay offer or union demands for a shorter working week. Both sides have expressed willingness to resume negotiations despite the current impasse.
RMT leader Eddie Dempsey said industrial relations had "collapsed", highlighting the deep divisions between the union and transport operators over pay and working conditions.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
