New data reveals how Londoners have altered their travel patterns during a record-breaking hot summer in the capital. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers reported an 83 per cent increase in passenger numbers in late June compared with the previous week, during the height of the heatwave. Lime bike usage rose by 28 per cent at the end of May, during the first heatwave of the year.
Cycling and Walking on the Rise
The research, shared with The Standard, found that more than half (55 per cent) of Londoners opted to cycle or walk instead of using their usual mode of transport during the hot weather, with more than a quarter (26 per cent) saying cycling was a more comfortable way to get around.
Voi recorded a 553 per cent year-on-year increase in e-bike and e-scooter use across London. The June heatwave alone saw rides rise by 84 per cent compared with pre-heatwave levels, while journeys on June 19 were up 156 per cent.
Tube and Bus Conditions
The heat has been felt particularly on London's Tube and buses, with passengers describing conditions on the deeper Underground lines as "sauna-like" as they board carriages armed with water bottles and portable fans.
According to Transport for London data, around 1.145 billion taps in and out were recorded across the network between roughly June 1 and August 1 this year, broadly in line with the 1.163 billion recorded over the same period in 2025.
Shifts in Line Usage
The figures suggest Londoners may have been shifting towards alternative lines. Some of the capital's deepest Underground lines recorded declines in taps in and taps out over the period. The Piccadilly line saw the biggest drop, falling by just over 9 per cent in 2026 compared with 2025, followed by the District line at 3.6 per cent, the Bakerloo line at 3.3 per cent and the Victoria line at 2.6 per cent.
Meanwhile, taps in and out increased on the DLR, which saw a 5.7 per cent rise over the same period, the Elizabeth line which increased by 1.8 per cent, the Metropolitan line by 1.4 per cent and the London Overground by 0.9 per cent.
Impact of a Hot Week
It is impossible to attribute the changes solely to the heat, as service disruptions, strike action and planned maintenance can all affect how people travel. The Piccadilly line, for example, had multiple closures this year for infrastructure upgrades and the testing of its new train fleet, while the DLR has improved its reliability.
However, the data points to a noticeable shift in travel during one particularly hot week this summer. In the week commencing June 22, taps in and out fell sharply by around 7.5 per cent compared with the previous week. This was during London's second heatwave of the summer when the Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat, and the hottest day of the year was recorded. Temperatures reached a record 37.7C in Norfolk, while London experienced consecutive 'tropical nights', schools were forced to close and the London Ambulance Service reported a 50 per cent increase in 999 calls.
The following week, TfL data shows passenger taps in and out of the network bounced back by 13.8 per cent. The sharp rebound, therefore, suggests something specific to the previous week may have driven the drop.
Nick Dent, TfL's director of customer operations, previously told The Standard: "We're working to ensure our transport services remain resilient in the face of more extreme and frequent hot weather events. We are investing millions as part of our continuous work to improve the network, which includes introducing new trains to meet growing customer numbers whilst providing more comfortable journeys." He added: "We have implemented energy efficient solutions on new trains, which reduce the heat generated. We're constantly looking at how innovative solutions can be rolled more widely on the transport network to ensure more passengers experience cool and comfortable journeys in the summer."
