Published: Tuesday, 19th June 2018

Cyclists can be among the first to experience the newly opened 'Missing Link' Thames Pathway on a free guided bike tour to celebrate National Clean Air Day.

Early evening tour

The early evening tour, on the longest day of the year, is one of a number of activities across Royal Greenwich to mark the day on Thursday 21 June.

The ride starts at 6pm from Cutty Sark Gardens and heads to the Royal Observatory via Greenwich Peninsula, the Thames Barrier, including the Missing Link and along quiet roads.

The route is between 6 to 8 miles and will go at a gentle pace.

Find out more information and book for the early evening tour (Cycle Confident website)

Free guided walk tour

There will be a free guided walking tour that sets off at 10am, starting at the Cutty Sark, going through beautiful Greenwich Park and ending back at the Cutty Sark.

To book your place, visit the Greenwich Get Active website.

School events

Schools across the borough are holding special events such as Bike Breakfasts, encouraging children and their families to leave the car at home and try other ways to travel to and from school.

An open air outdoor fitness class will be held at Coldharbour Leisure Centre; a 'Walking Bus' for young ones will go from Storkway Children's Centre to Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre and at the Woolwich Centre Library the after school club will be making a 'Clean Air Japanese Koi Carp Kite'.

Car Free Day

The Royal Borough has also announced its plans to hold a Car Free Day on 22 September.

Two main roads in Greenwich Town Centre, College Approach and King William Walk, will be closed to traffic for the day, creating a traffic free space which will be filled with fun activities aimed at families and residents of all ages.

Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN) project

Since March 2017 Greenwich and the Peninsula has been home to the Low Emission Neighbourhood (LEN) project, an ambitious series of pilot schemes looking at ways to improve air quality and make communities cleaner, safer and better places to live, work and learn.

Among the LEN projects:

  • Around 160 residents have trialled ebikes, a clean source of cycling which allows riders to go longer distances
  • A programme of work has begun on Trafalgar Road the will help clean up the air, reduce congestion, make the buses more reliable, and make this busy road a good place to walk and cycle. In January 2019 work will start on three 'pocket parks' that will create havens of calm along the road
  • The Better Points App, which allows people in the LEN area to earn redeemable shopping points by walking and cycling, has been downloaded by 224 people
  • A pilot scheme working with local businesses is assessing the benefits of using cargo bikes for local deliveries instead of using gas guzzling vehicles.

Free bike riding sessions for children

Don't forget that there are year round free bike riding sessions for children, aged seven upwards, and for adults who just want to stay healthy and use their bike safely.

For information or to book, visit the Cycle Confident website.

'Bring benefits to all in the borough'

Denise Scott McDonald, Cabinet Member for Air Quality, Public Realm and Transport, said: "We are looking at many ways to encourage residents, families and businesses to think about the journeys they make and how they could move from gas guzzling cars to other forms of transport. It is a move that will bring benefits to all in the borough and to their own health and well-being."