With stations closed, many commuters turned to bikes, revealing how adaptable Londoners are and what this means for urban transport, office locations, and the future of work.

The great pedal push

On 8 September, bike usage surged 43%—over 2 million trips in one day. Lime e-bike rides jumped 50% during rush hour, Santander Cycle Hire nearly doubled, and YuLife tracked a 32% rise in cycling miles. E-bikes weren’t just for last-mile deliveries—they became many Londoners’ main form of transport, with a 75% weekly increase.

A blueprint for a bike-friendly future?

While the increase in cycling underscores Londoners’ resilience and adaptability, it also exposes systemic gaps in infrastructure and safety. The surge in demand overwhelmed bike-sharing systems, with docking stations full and cycle lanes congested.

So while many Londoners are ready to cycle, the city is not quite ready for them yet. The tube strike inadvertently served as a stress test for London’s cycling ecosystem. It revealed:

• Cycling demand is real and rising.
• Infrastructure needs to continue to improve to facilitate safer cycling.
• The importance of real-time data to manage and respond to transport disruptions.

Adapting office strategy

The tube strikes highlighted the importance of connectivity and access for workers.

For years, proximity to a tube or National Rail station was the gold standard for office real estate, and that remains a key factor. But the strikes did place an emphasis on alternative modes of transport. Suddenly, offices that were near protected cycle lanes, close to Overground, or bus routes became more accessible than those that were congestion.

Although no more strikes are currently scheduled, looking to the future London is looking to further increase the use of sustainable transport, including cycling. Going forward, this is not just a transport issue; it is a real estate one too. The ripple effects are already being felt:

• Landlords are retrofitting buildings with bike-friendly amenities.
• Occupiers want transport resilience.
• Developers prioritise sites with strong active travel links and lower congestion risk.

The definition of “well-connected” is changing fast.

What next?

London’s forced experiment proved bikes aren’t a backup; they’re a blueprint. With smart policy and investment, cycling can lead to a healthier, more efficient urban future, and potentially transform London into a bike-friendly city.

Because the future of work isn’t just about where the office is; it’s about how people get there.

Further information

Contact Bram De Rijk or Josh Lamb

Savills Research