Is cycling in London being held back by the lack of suitable cycle parking facilities? The London Cycling Campaign says that a new London Assembly study shows that that more people would take to bicycles if there was better cycle parking.
The London Assembly study found that 40% of respondents to a survey said they would cycle more if there was better cycle parking. The London Cycling Campaign is calling for an increase in bike stands at workplaces and on the streets.
“Bike stands cost £50 per bike and last forever but shops, employers and councils are not putting in enough stands to meet booming demand,” says the London Cycling Campaign.
London Cycling Campaign estimates that to meet the Mayor’s target of more than a threefold increase in cycling by 2025 an extra 100,000 additional bike parking spaces are needed. The London Assembly report recommends that Transport for London draw up a cycle parking strategy and that it identifies where bike stands need to be installed.
Tom Bogdanowicz, London Cycling Campaign Campaigns Manager says: “We know that thousands more Londoners would like to cycle but they don’t have anywhere to leave their bikes at work, near shops or at other destinations – bike stands are overflowing this year and we desperately need more.”
And current bike stands at key locations are at maximum capacity, with a London Cycling Campaign survey finding 99% were fully occupied. In the London Assembly survey 75% of respondents said that there was insufficient cycle parking at shops and 70% that there was a lack of cycle parking at tube stations.
Many shops are missing out on business during the recession because they don’t have bike stands. “LCC members consistently report that they choose to spend their money at shops which have nearby bike stands so other shops are losing out,” said LCC’s cycling development officer Charlie Lloyd.
