What do bike planters, bus branding, staircase signage, and women’s football have in common? In London and across England, they’re all part of the transit tapestry – little nudges, colourful cues, and creative campaigns that reflect how the city moves, pauses, and celebrates.
In our latest blog post about our visit to England, we spotted a mix of design tweaks and cultural signals that say as much about London’s mobility mindset as any new tech platform or flagship strategy.
Bike Planters > Bollards
Some cities use metal posts to block cars from creeping into pedestrian space. Others go floral. On a quiet corner near Acton (west London), a row of green-painted planters – each with a bicycle icon – does double duty: calming the streetscape and signaling that bikes belong. Are these the most secure or functional bike racks? Perhaps not. But they send a softer message than steel poles: This space is for people. And plants.
The Superloop That’s Actually a Bus
London’s “Superloop” might sound like a Bond villain’s escape route, but it’s actually a network of express orbital bus routes circling outer London. The marketing is bold — rainbow branding, subway-style maps, and even the word “express” added to formerly forgettable routes (RIP, the plain old 607). It’s public transit rebranded for the TikTok age: faster, friendlier, and a bit flashier. I definitely used it in and around Acton and Ealing and it was quite efficient.
Manchester ULEZ Plans Scrapped
Despite having Greater Manchester congestion charge signs everywhere, Greater Manchester will not introduce a London-style Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) or charging Clean Air Zone. Instead, the authorities are pursuing an investment-led Clean Air Plan using £86 million in funding to update buses and taxis, aiming to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions faster than charging drivers ever could. Like New York experienced, congestion pricing can be controversial – but if London can do it, let’s hope Manchester can, too.
It’s Home (Again): Transit and the Lionesses
In July 2023, Transport for London (TfL) announced that it would be giving each of its Overground services, including that on the Watford to Euston route, new names by the end of 2024.
In February 2024, TfL announced that the London Overground service on the Watford DC line would be named the Lioness line (to honour the England women’s national football team who became European champions at Wembley Stadium in 2022) and would be coloured yellow on the updated network map. And guess what – they won it again when I was visiting! Check out the TfL support in the stations – great to see.
Stairs, Signed and Segmented
In England, you drive on the left and typically walk on the left. Sometimes tourists (and locals) need a gentle (or not so gentle) reminder of this. One station made the walk slightly less painful (and more orderly) with colour-coded steps: green for “This side up,” red for “This side down.” It’s a small fix, but a meaningful one for crowd flow and safety, and a reminder that signage doesn’t need to be serious to be effective.
Carshare, Now With Church Views
Zipcar isn’t new to North America, and it’s not flashy in London either. But seeing a designated spot outside a historic Islington church shows how embedded shared mobility has become. No lengthy apps or geofencing debates here: just a straightforward “pay-as-you-go” sign and a parked car that fits right into the residential rhythm, and is clear and obvious where it is and what it is.
Summary of Street-Level Stories
From colourful planters in Acton to celebratory signage for the Lionesses, England’s transport network is more than a way to get from A to B – it’s a living, breathing reflection of its people, culture, and priorities. Whether through bold branding, policy pivots, or clever wayfinding, the country shows that mobility can be both functional and full of personality. Here’s to spotting more of these street-level stories on our next visit.