Going Green in Hackney
The Mayor of London declared 2010 ‘the year of cycling’, but in Hackney the cycle revolution has been underway for years. No other London borough has as many of its journeys undertaken by bicycle, or as many as 13 per cent of its residents cycling to work. Hackney knows all about the benefits of taking to two wheels.
So why are more residents switching to bike? Because cycling is the ultimate cheap, fast and flexible way to get around the capital, and one of the easiest ways to improve one’s health at the same time. According to the government, regular exercise halves your chances of suffering from heart disease and helps prevent strokes, diabetes and some forms of cancer.
Aside from being healthy, cycling is:
- Quicker – it’s one of the fastest ways to get around London and to get to work, with a 5 mile journey taking approximately 30 minutes.
- Cheaper – it reduces your expenditure on public transport tickets, as well as parking, petrol and congestion charges.
- Greener – it helps lower CO2 emissions.
- Fun – it’s a great way of exploring London and its back streets.
Hackney Council continues to support and encourage cycling to work, school or for leisure, and has adopted a different approach from many other London boroughs, with a focus on improving permeability and accessibility. Major improvements around the borough are encouraging all users to share the road, and making cyclists safer by reducing traffic volume and speed.
Practical solutions include creating no-through roads except for cycles, lowering speed limits to 20mph, and exempting cyclists from banned turns and one-way streets wherever it’s safe to do so. Examples include Goldsmiths Row, a major route to the city, which has been closed to motor traffic and will become a two-way cycle lane, and the roundabout at the junction of Hoxton Street and Pitfield Street, which has been converted to a more cycle-friendly crossroads.
Improvements to the cycle routes through the borough which lead to the Olympic Park are underway too. Enhancements to the Lea Valley Path and the Greenways will not only benefit the thousands of people expected to walk or cycle to the Games in 2012, but will provide a useful and enjoyable travel option for future generations.
And it’s not only Hackney’s investment in infrastructure that supports and improves cycling in the borough. Last year, the Council ran eight cycle pit stops on main commuter routes, aimed at promoting and encouraging cycling and raising awareness of cycle safety and security. Bike mechanics were on hand to offer advice and general maintenance, to help keep bikes roadworthy. An onsite HGV raised awareness of safety on the roads, by allowing cyclists to experience a driver's view and get a better understanding of the blindspots. And the Safer Neighbourhoods Team, together with the police, were fitting bikes with security microchips. Since summer 2010 the team has chipped over 1,200 bikes – and they’re not stopping yet!
The borough places a big emphasis on cycle training, and offers free sessions to anyone who lives, studies or works in Hackney. Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or a beginner, everyone is encouraged to take part to boost cycle confidence and skills on the road. To book your free lesson call 020 7231 6005. Find out more about cycling in Hackney at: www.hackney.gov.uk/movebybike.htm