London has opened its first ‘Quietway’, a 9km stretch allowing cyclists and pedestrians to use traffic-free paths.

It is a continuous sign-posted route that connects Greenwich and Waterloo.

This route passes through four London boroughs, Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

"Cycling leads to a healthier lifestyle, it helps to cut pollution and is a key part of my vision of the type of greener, more modern and affordable transport network we need in our city."

It also features over 2km of traffic-free paths for cyclists and has improved facilities for pedestrians, such as wider footways and new or improved crossing facilities.

Indicated with purple branded signage, Quietway 1 links with other cycling routes in the area including the North-South Cycle Superhighway (CS6) at Webber Street and Cycle Superhighway 7 (CS7) at Great Suffolk Street.

Transport for London claimed that this route passes several areas of local interest, including Patterson Park and Bermondsey Spa in Southwark.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, said: ‘It is important that we make it safer and easier for Londoners to cycle across our city and we want the first of the Quietways to make a significant contribution towards that aim.

"I am already looking at what works best from the existing cycle schemes to ensure we deliver the best and safest road cycling network possible.

"Cycling leads to a healthier lifestyle, it helps to cut pollution and is a key part of my vision of the type of greener, more modern and affordable transport network we need in our city."

All the seven Quietway routes will be completed by next year.

The Quietway routes will complement other TFL initiatives such as the Central London Cycling Grid and Cycle Superhighways, reported Traffictechnologytoday.com.