The proportion of journeys made by cyclists in Greenwich has dropped as a strategy to encourage more riders falls behind schedule, a report has said.

Greenwich Council’s cycling strategy was adopted in 2014 with the intention of supporting “more cycling, more often, and even more safely”.

The target of the 10-year plan is to grow cycling so five per cent of all trips in Greenwich are made by bike by 2026.

However, according to an update report, the percentage of trips being made by bike has dropped and is now below the strategy’s target.

The target for 2017/18 to 2019/20 was originally to have 3.8 per cent of trips made on a bike, but latest figures show that cyclists make up just 1.7 per cent of journeys.

This time last year 2.2 per cent of trips were made on bike, up on previous years.

The report explains: “It is notable that the data for the most recent period reflects a reduction – not an increase – in cycling mode share.

“This is despite increases seen in previous years and significant progress with delivering the outputs of the strategy.”

Officers said route closures and “the perception” of cyclist safety may be reasons for the decrease.

“There are many possible factors that are essential to consider in understanding this reduction,” the report explains.

“Closures or disruption to cycling infrastructure in Greenwich, factors influencing the perception of cycle safety, regional and national trends in transport behaviour and the impact they have on local mode share.”

The closure of the Thames Path at Enderby Wharf for development work had a big impact, according to officers.

“Further investigation is required to build a complete picture of the cause and remedy to the reduction in cycle flows. Officers will continue working to explore this as the remaining data for the year becomes available.”

The report will be discussed by councillors at a meeting on November 22.

This comes just weeks after a notorious roundabout in Woolwich where a cyclist was killed was dubbed “not fit for humans” by a senior councillor.

The Angerstein Roundabout has been the centre of campaigns for cycle safety this year and the leader and deputy of Greenwich Council was quizzed on it at a public meeting earlier this month.

Campaigners and councillors have criticised the A201 junction for being notoriously dangerous for cyclists.

Councillor David Gardner said earlier this month: “That is an awful roundabout, it is not built on a human scale. It’s not built for human beings, it needs drastic surgery to make it safe.”

City Hall is working with Greenwich on designs and funding to improve the roundabout “as soon as possible” ahead of the cycle superhighway.