"Mass trespass" sees hundreds cycle through controversial Silvertown Tunnel where cyclists have to catch "greenwashing" bus due to lack of bike route

Ride follows opening of £2.2bn London tunnel without a cycling route, forcing cyclists to take a lengthy detour or use widely criticised shuttle bus.

Silvertown Tunnel in London was the scene of a "mass trespass" on Friday night, hundreds of cyclists riding through the tunnel in protest at the newly opened £2bn route's lack of cycling infrastructure, riders instead told they must take their bikes on a "greenwashing" bus to shuttle them through.

The tunnel was reportedly closed for around an hour after cyclists taking part in Critical Mass London's monthly ride cycled through it, the ride part of the wider global movement of Critical Mass events reclaiming the streets from motor traffic and highlighting the need for safe active travel routes.

In this case, Silvertown Tunnel was singled out for its lack of access or safe alternative for cyclists, the £2bn project having recently been completed and bicycle riders told they must either cross the river via a lengthy detour or catch a free shuttle bus that has been put on at a further expense of £2m.

The idea that cyclists must, rather than be provided a suitable direct route to ride between Greenwich south of the river and Newham to the north, catch a bus before resuming their cycled journeys on the other side was already branded "ridiculous" by campaigners when the plans were announced.

Accusations of "greenwashing" have been prominent throughout, the Silvertown Tunnel project reportedly costing in excess of £2bn but lacking an option for cyclists that does not either involve a massively longer journey or taking your bike on a bus that then drives through the tunnel. Criticism peaked when it emerged in January that the cost of the bike bus — which will be free to use for "for at least 12 months" and will run five times an hour from 6.30am to 9.30pm, seven days a week — will be £2m.

It was to that context that Friday's Critical Mass ride saw hundreds on bikes defy the ban on cycling and travel through the tunnel, videos from participants showing the sea of two-wheeled traffic and Critical Mass's standard carnival atmosphere.

One participant explained to us how "cyclists swarmed the entrance near the O2, and took over both lanes of the tunnel, which has no regular provision for cycling and walking".

"Incoming vehicular traffic was blocked to allow for safe passage of the main body of the ride, which made its way to the northern exit at Silvertown," they continued. "The ride through the tunnel took approximately ten minutes, before riders paused at the northern end roundabout to regroup and then move off towards Poplar."

Social media reports suggest the tunnel remained shut for around an hour after the ride had passed through before it later opened to traffic again.

Throughout the planning and construction stages, campaigners raised concerns about the potential impact the new tunnel, which charges drivers £4 to use at peak times, will have on traffic levels and emissions. On top of that, the lack of safe and accessible cycling and walking routes as part of the £2.2bn project was repeatedly raised as a major concern.

However, the 'solution' for cyclists is Transport for London awarding bus company Stagecoach a £2m contract to run a shuttle service through the tunnel, cyclists told to make a long-distance detour or catch the bus through the tunnel, a service that will remain free for at least a year.

At the time the bike bus was announced there was much discussion about it on social media, one user calling the idea "ridiculous". Another called it "embarrassing" that London is "a city which cannot afford to build a dedicated bridge or tunnel for cycles and pedestrians, but dedicates countless billions to new infrastructure for more cars". It also attracted accusations of "greenwashing".

Victoria Rance, a local teacher and the founder of the Stop the Silvertown Tunnel Coalition, commented: "This is 2023. The climate is at a tipping point. We must reduce car use by 27-40 per cent according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan's own carbon plan. So putting bikes on a bus instead of creating bike lanes is bonkers. Please repurpose the Silvertown Tunnel, the sooner the better."

"Repurposing the tunnel would be so much better. Or building the cycle bridge," argued the Greenwich branch of the London Cycling Campaign. "All Silvertown will bring is more pollution and more congestion. It is incompatible with a responsible climate policy in its current form."

Commenting on the "mass trespass", a Transport for London spokesperson said: "Cycling is not allowed in the Blackwall or Silvertown Tunnel for safety reasons. A cycle shuttle service operates through the Silvertown Tunnel and offers a safe connection for cyclists through the tunnel between Silvertown and North Greenwich. During this incident, we had to close the tunnel to all traffic until it was safe to reopen again, impacting drivers and bus passengers who would use the tunnel."