Kingston's £4.5m cycling plan: genuine green transport or a scheme that ignores most residents?

Kingston Council has approved £4.5 million for new cycling routes connecting Kingston town centre, Surbiton, and New Malden. The council presents this as a green transport investment. But not everyone is convinced.

Who cycles in Kingston?

According to census data, roughly 4% of Kingston residents cycle to work. The borough is hilly, spread out, and car-dependent compared to inner London boroughs. Spending £4.5 million on infrastructure for 4% of commuters while bus services are being cut raises legitimate questions about priorities.

The parking trade-off nobody is talking about

Segregated cycle lanes on Portsmouth Road will require removing on-street parking and potentially a lane of traffic. For businesses on Portsmouth Road, this could mean fewer customers. For residents who rely on cars — including elderly residents, disabled residents, and families — losing parking is not a minor inconvenience.

The council's traffic modelling

The council says traffic modelling shows "minimal impact" on journey times. Residents who sit in Kingston's traffic daily may have a different view. The modelling assumptions should be published in full so residents can scrutinise them.

What is genuinely positive

Segregated lanes — physically separated from traffic — are the gold standard for cycling safety. If they are built properly, they will encourage more people to cycle who currently feel unsafe. The 200 new bike parking spaces at stations are also welcome. And the New Malden connection fills a genuine gap.

The balance test

The question is not whether cycling infrastructure is good (it is), but whether £4.5 million is the right allocation when the council simultaneously has an £18 million budget gap, below-average recycling rates, and children's services requiring improvement.

Have your say

Design consultations begin in spring 2026. This is your chance to influence the route designs and raise concerns about parking and traffic impact. Follow this topic on Council Watch to get notified when consultations open.