Trying out the Silvertown Tunnel bike bus on its first day in service

The Silvertown Tunnel “bike bus” opened today, transporting its first cyclists under the Thames.

The £2million Cycle Shuttle Service runs through the tunnel, between North Greenwich and the Royal Docks, every 12 minutes, seven-days-a-week and will be free to use for at least the first year.

Co-founder of bike shop Bikesey, Tony James, 43, of Maberly Road, Crystal Palace, headed to the river crossing to try out its first day in service.

He said: “The bus service itself is pleasant, but a far cry from the cycle route under the Thames that cycling groups were calling for.

“It is handy for people going to the Excel Centre and Canary Wharf, saving the inconvenience of walking through the Greenwich foot tunnels, and potentially having to carry a bike up the stairs in the event of a broken lift.”

The shuttle has been launched by Transport for London (TfL) in a bid to make the river crossing safer for cyclists and to promote active travel in the area.

Conventional bikes, tricycles, folded bikes, adaptive cycles and cargo bikes can use the service, as well as e-bikes and Santander-sponsored TfL bikes.

Inside, the bus has two separate bays, each able to hold up to four bikes, with one bay prioritised for non-standard bikes.

Mr James said: “The spaces are quite cramped and the cycle paths from central Greenwich to the bus stop in Millennium Way could be improved.

“But it was encouraging to see that UK street-legal e-bikes are allowed on the bus, despite TfL’s recent ban on taking full-size e-bikes on public transport.

“People were using it to carry Santander bikes, Santander e-bikes and Lime Bikes across the river on the first services of the day.”

There are two bus stops, one on each side of the river, with the south stop in Millennium Way near the junction with Old School Close.

Mr James praised the cycling infrastructure on the north side of the river and noted minimal traffic passing through the tunnel.

He said: “With a separate bus lane the whole way along the interval and one bus every 12 minutes it looks encouraging and feasible.”

TfL will “continue to seek customer feedback” to ensure that the service operates efficiently, the network said.

Pictured top: Marco, the first passenger from the south on the new service heading north this morning (Picture: https://bikesy.co.uk)