Garden Town partners, Harlow Council, are set to take a major step forward in transforming travel across the town with the planned launch of a London-style cycle hire scheme later this year.
Dating all the way back to Sir Frederick Gibberd’s New Town masterplan, Harlow is home to one of the strongest cycle networks in the country with over 30 miles of dedicated tracks linking every corner of the town.
Building on that legacy is a huge priority for the Harlow & Gilston Garden Town (HGGT) development with new and improved active travel routes planned across both the local area and within HGGT’s new communities at Gilston, East of Harlow, Latton Priory and Water Lane.
Upgraded cycling routes are already open as part of the wider transport works that are nearing completion between Harlow Town Centre and Burnt Mill roundabout.
And HGGT partners, Essex County Council, not only resurfaced the cycling network between Nettlewell Orchard and the Pinnacles in 2024 but added new streetlighting, improved drainage and installed new tabletop crossings as part of a £2m project.
The Garden Town’s Reimagining How We Can Travel Differently framework revealed that 23% of people in Harlow use cycling, walking and buses as their primary mode of travel.
HGGT partners are looking to double that number across the town in the future, increasing to 60% for residents living in the future Garden Town communities.
Harlow Council’s brand-new hire service will be designed to make cycling quicker, easier and more accessible for everyone.
In a report that went to Harlow Council’s Cabinet last month, the scheme sets out plans that unlock genuine choice in how residents travel.
Whether residents are commuting, getting to school or work, heading to the shops or making every day journeys across the town, this bike hire service will give people the freedom to move around Harlow effortlessly.
And just like the system in London, users would be able to unlock a bike from a docking station in seconds, ride wherever they need to go, and simply dock it again when finished – ensuring bikes remain secure and pavements stay clear.
No bikes would be free standing – all would be secured in docking stations.
The initiative is a key part of Harlow Council’s mission to ‘secure our future’ and represents another major investment in modern, high-quality infrastructure and supports the town’s ambition to become a more connected and dynamic place to live, work and do business.
By making travel simpler, faster and more flexible, the scheme will strengthen access to jobs, education and services and help attract further investment into Harlow.
Announcing the plans, Councillor Dan Swords, Leader of Harlow Council and Chair of the HGGT Joint Committee, said: “Harlow is on the move and this new cycle hire scheme will open up our town like never before – fast, simple and accessible travel at your fingertips.
“We already have one of the best cycle networks in the country, and now we are unlocking its full potential.
“Just like in London, bikes will be securely docked in designated areas – easy to hire, cheap to use and a great way to travel.
“This is another bold step in Building Harlow’s Future, a town that’s confident, connected and attracting the investment and opportunities our residents deserve.”
Councillor Alastair Gunn, Cabinet Member for Planning and Garden Town, added: “This proposal is about giving every resident genuine choice in how they move around our town – making every day journeys easier, cheaper and more accessible than ever before.
“We’re putting in place everything needed to make this scheme a real success: secure docking stations across the town, high-quality bikes people can rely on, and a network designed so that cycling becomes a practical, everyday option for thousands of residents.
“This is exactly the kind of modern, ambitious infrastructure that will strengthen our town, support growth and help secure our future. It’s another step forward in Building Harlow’s Future.”
The council’s Cabinet will consider the report with the intention of appointing an operator and launching the service this year.
