TfL funding to encourage more cycling
A new cycle hub with secure, covered and illuminated bike stands is set to be built at Ealing Broadway station by the autumn.
Ealing Council has secured £286,500 Transport for London (TfL)funding towards delivering the hub, which will also provide additional cycle parking in the area. The creation of this facility is part of the council’s Cycling Strategy which aims to encourage more people to take to two wheels as their regular mode of transport.
As one of TfL’s “Biking Boroughs”, Ealing Council is focused on creating a local culture of cycling. The new Ealing Broadway hub will be covered by CCTV and will also include a separate cycle hire facility, allowing people to hire bicycles for as little or as long as they like. A recent survey of people using Ealing Broadway station found that having a secure place to store a bike was important to encourage more people into cycling.
South Acton, Southall Broadway, Elthorne, Northolt and Greenford have all been identified as potential locations for other hubs in future. The cycling strategy includes other investment by the council such as:
· Extending off-road routes
· Building on existing cycle training schemes and continuing to provide advice to new or existing cyclists
· Continuing highway engineering schemes to remove barriers which inconvenience or endanger cyclists.
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for Transport and Environment, said:
“The council is committed to supporting residents who want to take up cycling in our borough and this exciting new facility will provide peace of mind for people who want to leave their bikes for a short time while they do some shopping in Ealing or for the whole day while they commute into central London.
''Ealing Broadway is one of the busiest transport interchanges in outer London and this hub will mean it can be utilised by many more cyclists. We will also deliver a fantastic opportunity for casual cyclists to take part in our own affordable bike hire scheme in Ealing.
“We’ve been working with partners like Ealing Cycling Campaign and are committed to making cycling as easy as possible for residents. By creating this hub, we have prioritised funding towards improvements that bring real benefits to bike riders.”
You can find out more about cycling in Ealing at: www.ealing.gov.uk/services/transport_and_streets/cycling and www.ealingcycling.org.uk.
9th May 2011
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