A special route intended to encourage cycling and walking in London has officially opened.

The capital’s first Quietway filters more vulnerable road users onto quiet backstreets in a bid to improve road safety and congestion, and make it more attractive to walk and cycle in the city.

With clear purple signposts, the new route links Greenwich to Waterloo, passing through Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham. It boasts more than 2km of traffic-free paths for cyclists, while pedestrians benefit from improved crossing facilities and wider footways.

The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured (KSI) on Greater London’s roads in 2014 dropped by 5 per cent to 779, according to Transport for London’s most recent figures. Pedestrians were safer too, with KSIs falling 9.5 per cent to 432 incidents.

London mayor Sadiq Khan is keen to ensure those numbers continue heading in the right direction.

“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,” he commented.

“Cycling 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.”

Another six Quietways are set to open before spring 2016, guiding cyclists towards the Thames from various directions.