A five-day strike of Tube workers has significantly impacted life in London, with business associations estimating the economic damage to be around £230 million.

The contention revolves around the RMT union’s push for a reduction of the workweek from 34 to 32 hours. The strike will conclude at 08:00 BST on Friday, but the question remains: what lies ahead?

This remains a pivotal issue, as the main point of contention has been the demand for a shorter workweek from the RMT. While the union’s rhetoric has softened, expressing a desire for incremental steps towards a 32-hour workweek, Transport for London (TfL) has historically viewed this as a non-negotiable matter. TfL estimates that even a 30-minute reduction in working hours would result in an annual cost of £30 million, while a shift to 32 hours could exceed £200 million, impeding their ability to reinvest in the transport system.

Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, chose not to intervene to prevent the strike, unlike in 2024 when he allocated £30 million from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to help, an action that critics argue compromised negotiations in 2025.

On Thursday, RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey mentioned to the BBC, “We are glad that Sadiq Khan has finally directed TfL to engage with us… I am now awaiting a formal invitation, and as soon as we receive that, we will return to talks to reach a resolution and restore movement in London.”

During a session at the London Assembly on Thursday, the mayor expressed optimism about the resumption of discussions between the RMT and TfL in the near future.

TfL has also proposed a meeting with the RMT on Wednesday, clarifying that it was not mandated to do so by the mayor. Achieving a resolution will likely require concessions from both parties, which have been lacking thus far.

Throughout the duration of the strikes, there was roughly a 24% decline in the number of commuters utilizing contactless and Oyster cards in London. It’s challenging to trace the whereabouts of these commuters, but it’s plausible that many opted to work from home or shifted to walking and cycling.

Among those who did commute, many switched to alternative transportation. For instance, bus ridership increased by 5% compared to the same day in the previous year, while London Overground saw a 20% rise for the equivalent day. By 15:00 on Wednesday, TfL Cycle Hire recorded 19,608 rentals, a notable jump from 10,158 rentals at the same time the previous week, representing a 93% increase.

The pandemic has taught us that a decrease in network travelers can alleviate congestion for those who must travel. Despite the strike, the London Underground managed to maintain a limited number of services.

Londoners demonstrated remarkable adaptability in their travel habits. The Elizabeth line, in particular, has significantly altered travel dynamics in the city during Tube strikes. Although there were times of high demand, it provided a more efficient east-west travel option. Initially, some stations remained closed due to staffing shortages, yet TfL noted a 26% increase in commuter traffic on this line.

Additionally, the Thameslink service, which operates north-south, experienced similar heightened demand.

A noteworthy trend during this period was the rise in e-bike usage. Lime reported a 74% increase in trips, a 40% rise in trip duration, and a 35% boost in distance traveled. This indicates that commuters leaned towards e-bikes for longer distances. Interestingly, Lime is partly owned by Uber and Google, highlighting how a technology company advocating for individual mobility profited from disruptions in a publicly-owned mass transit system.

Moreover, Forest bikes experienced a staggering 300% increase in rides from 27,000 to 60,000 on Monday, predicting a 500% rise over the week as new users continued to sign up.

Does this mark a significant moment for the rise of e-bikes in London? However, the surge in e-bikes also led to congestion on central London streets. Lime introduced designated “strike parking zones,” but the charity Guide Dogs expressed concerns over clusters of hire bikes, calling for stricter regulations.

They stated, “Rental companies acknowledge the surge in use, yet their solutions—such as geo-fenced parking and retrieval teams—are inadequate. Without stronger rules and enforcement, this chaotic situation will persist, endangering visually impaired individuals.

The government has issued plans to regulate and oversee such rental schemes, illustrating the urgent need for these powers. We also encourage riders to be mindful of parking in order to keep our pavements clear and accessible for all.”

Hospitality sectors have reported a significant hit to smaller businesses due to the strike. KERB, responsible for street-food markets and the Seven Dials Market in Covent Garden, noted a 60% decline in foot traffic at Seven Dials compared to the same week last year, translating to over 24,000 lost potential customers.

Simon Mitchell, the CEO of KERB, noted the strike’s severe impact on the street food community, especially after a traditionally slower summer period. He mentioned the closure of four midweek lunch markets, which cost around 30 traders approximately £40,000 in potential earnings.

“The strikes have dealt a serious blow to London’s street food scene, compounding the challenges small food businesses face,” he stated.

UKHospitality, a trade organization for the industry, estimated that the strike’s financial repercussions could reach up to £600 million. CEO Kate Nicholls commented, “Our pubs, bars, cafes, hotels, and restaurants are unfortunate victims of this situation, with total sales losses since the dispute began now expected to exceed £3 billion.”

Prior to the start of the strike on Monday, the Centre for Economics and Business Research projected that numerous industries, from professional services to retail and hospitality, would experience adverse effects.