wellness
New Protected Cycling Routes Connect Five Camden Parks for Families
Protected lanes and beginner sessions now link several green spaces across the borough for riders of all levels.
How we reported this
Camden Council completed a 3.2-kilometre extension of family cycling lanes on 1 July 2026, connecting the Regent's Canal towpath directly to Primrose Hill.
The addition matters now because the borough's 2025 Active Travel report recorded a 22 percent rise in weekday park visits by households with children under 12, prompting the council to prioritise flat, traffic-separated routes over the next two summers.
One new stretch begins at Camden Lock Market and runs west along the canal to the gates of Primrose Hill, where riders can join a short loop around the base of the hill before returning on the same path. A second route starts at the Talacre Community Sports Centre on Kentish Town Road and follows a signed lane through the adjacent playing fields to the edge of Parliament Hill Fields, giving beginners a 2-kilometre circuit with only one gentle incline.
Local programs support first-time riders
The Camden Cycling Campaign runs free Saturday skills sessions at Talacre every weekend through August, supplying balance bikes for children aged three to six and adult bikes with child seats. The council's Pedal Power scheme, funded through the borough's parks budget, offers £8 day passes for bike hire at the dock beside Camden Road station, with helmets included.
Usage data shows steady growth
Figures released last month by Camden's transport team show 1,840 family rides logged on the new canal section in its first three weeks, up from 920 rides on the older shared path during the same period in 2025. Average rental cost per family of four came to £24 for a two-hour session, according to the station's booking records.
Parents can check the council website for updated lane maps and session times before heading out. Helmets and lights remain mandatory on all borough routes after dusk.