Watford Borough Council Cycle lanes and routes

Cycling as a mode of transport is cheap, healthy and  sustainable. On this page you can download excellent cycling maps from the 'Related Items' panel to the right of this page. They detail the Grand Union Canal towpath route, the Ebury Way route, the West Watford route and a general map covering all the cycle routes in Watford.

These maps are also available from the Customer Service Centre at the Town Hall.

Locally, within the South West Herts area, cycling accounts for less than two out of every hundred of all weekday trips (circa 1994). This is in spite of the fact that 75% of all such trips are of an easy cycling distance (under 5 miles), with 50% being under 2 miles.

In Watford cycle journeys to work make up 2.26% of all journeys (census 2001) compared with 1.8% across the whole of Hertfordshire (Census 2001).

A Commitment

Watford Borough Council is strongly committed to encouraging the use of cycles by:

• Developing a safe and direct network of useable routes that link to other routes within South West Herts
• Influencing the design of facilities for cyclists at road junctions, one way streets and dangerous crossings
• Providing improved storage and welfare facilities for cyclists visiting Watford Borough Council sites, and negotiating for improved facilities with local businesses and private developers
• Promoting cycle safety by means of cyclist and driver education through publicity and training courses.

What we have achieved so far

Since 1996 the Council has delivered the following:

• The town centre cycle route
• The Westfield Way cycle route and toucan crossing
• The extension of national route no.6 and bridge (Ebury Way/Riverside Road Community Park)
• Harwoods recreation ground cycle path
• Contributions to the Radlett Road and Beechen Grove toucan crossings
• Advisory route to Watford Junction from High Street
• Riverside Road cycle route (NR6/61)
• Cassiobury Park route phase 1
• The Grove cycle route
• Leavesden advisory routes
• Sheepcot Lane toucan crossing
• North Watford advisory routes
• Grand Union Canal access improvements
• Bill Everett Centre and Watford Leisure Centre managed cycle parks
• More than 130 cycle parking stands at over 20 sites across the town
• Lower High Street toucan crossing
• Publicity material relating to the promotion of routes and initiatives
• Negotiating improved facilities at workplaces and residential developments for cyclists
• Input to the 'Safer Routes to Schools' initiative at 5 primary schools and 3 secondary schools
• Input to the design of the St Albans Road green route
• Input to the Area Transport Plans for Leavesden, North Watford, West Watford, Oxhey and the Central Watford Green Zone.
• Provided additional cycle parking for sixty bikes at Watford Junction
• Reconstructed nearly 600 metres of path through Whippendell Woods to enable access to the canal towpath at Iron Bridge Lock

The Watford Cycling Strategy Group

The group is an advisory committee formed as a result of the Watford Cycling Seminar held in Novemer 1995 and reports to the Watford Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Transport. The group meets on an 8 weekly basis, with smaller project based teams meeting independently as necessary.

Groups and organisations represented on the Cycling Strategy Group are:

• Watford Borough Council
• Three Rivers District Council
• Local cyclists
• Hertfordshire County Council
• Hertfordshire Highways
• Hertfordshire Police
• CTC (Cyclists Touring Club)
• Groundwork Hertfordshire
• Friends of The Earth
• South West Herts Spokes
• Living Streets
• The St Albans Cycle Campaign

Watford's town centre cycling code

Cycling in the town centre can be, enjoyable, safe and easy.

The cycle path runs through the heart of the shopping centre and is largely traffic free. Most of the cycle path is on dedicated lanes but in some places you must cycle with or against the flow of traffic. Look out for the road signs that tell you this.

It's safer if you follow some simple tips:

• Give way to pedestrians at all times, leaving plenty of room to stop and manoeuvre.
• Keep to your side of any dividing line and never cut corners
• Be careful at bends, junctions and entrances
• Always be aware of your surroundings - shoppers will cross your path at many points and vehicles may be travelling towards you
• There are loading bays next to the path and goods are moved about
• People may be hard of hearing or visually impaired. Never assume that they can hear or see you
• Never surprise people "Bike by the Code"

The Watford Cycle Pack 

This is available free of charge from the Customer Service Centre at the Town Hall or request by email to cycling@watford.gov.uk