More cycle spaces for local schools

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St Benedict's, Lady Margaret and Grange Primary take up the challenge

Safe and secure cycle parking facilities at 3 schools in Ealing Borough.  These are part of 76 schools around the Capital that been selected by Transport for London as part of their plan to meet the Mayor's target of 5000 new school cycle spaces by the end of 2005, ahead of schedule.

The three schools to benefit are;

St. Benedict's School Ealing

Lady Margaret Primary School Ealing

Grange Primary School

Half of all journeys made in London are less than 2 miles; a distance easily cycled. However the level of cycling in London is relatively low compared to many other European cities. Targeting children and young people will help to reduce the number of unnecessary short car journeys and with the availability of new cycle parking facilities, cycling will now be a viable alternative to driving.  A remarkable 23% increase in the number of cycle journeys has been witnessed on the Transport for London Road Network in the past year.

Photo: thanks to www.lifecycles.co.uk/

Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL Peter Hendy said:

"I'm delighted at the success of this project and the enthusiastic support of the
boroughs and schools. Secure and good quality cycle parking is a key element in delivering the
Mayor's Cycling Action Plan. Getting children out of their parents' cars and on to their bikes
is not only good for their health, but will also help improve London's environment, and help
free-up our roads.

"It's great to see so many schools now properly geared up for the future and I'm
confident that this initiative, combined with TfL's commitment to cycle training, will help
parents, teachers and children to view cycling as a safe, affordable and viable option for
school travel."

The provision of secure parking facilities for more than 2,500 cycles will be completed between October 2004 and March 2005 throughout greater London as part of a wider plan to encourage
young Londoners to cycle. The London Cycle Action Plan published by TfL earlier this year set
out bold targets including a 200 per cent increase in cycling by 2020 and 5,000 new cycle
spaces installed by the end of 2005.

July 7, 2004