Cycling initiatives and schemes in your borough
Cycling is an integral part of Lambeth Council policy and is woven into all strands of our transport strategy. 2013 is an exciting year because the Mayor’s Cycling Vision, recently published, will lead to new improvements for cyclists in our borough, adding to the great work we already do to support you in getting on your bike.
Free cycle training
Lambeth offers free cycle training to anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough. The training sessions are for people of all abilities, whether complete newcomers or experienced cyclists looking for a confidence boost. Visit the Cycle Confident website – www.cycleconfident.co.uk – to find out more.
Councillor Imogen Walker recently completed a cycle training session, and was interviewed afterwards...
How often did you cycle before doing the training?
I hadn’t been on a bike for over 20 years – I grew up in rural Scotland and had never cycled in a city before. Although I liked the idea of it I knew I needed to learn about the rules of the road from a cyclist’s point of view and I wasn’t sure how to get started.
What were your main perceived barriers to cycling?
The traffic. As a driver and pedestrian I understood how to get around safely. But there are different challenges on a bike and, frankly, it was all a bit of a mystery to me – and quite intimidating.
What did you enjoy most about your cycle training?
Cycle Confident is really well named – I came away thinking that this is something that I would not only be able to do again, but that I’d actually look forward to. My instructor Charlie was incredibly supportive and knowledgeable and, while he was very encouraging, he never pushed me beyond where I was comfortable.
What message would you give to anyone thinking about taking up cycling in Lambeth?
Try it. A programme like this will let you work at your own speed and gain the skills and confidence you need to get back on a bike, no matter how long it’s been (you really don’t forget!). I think I’m probably quite typical of someone who cycled as a child but has never been comfortable going on a city road, but I feel quite differently about it now. It’s free and it’s fun and has opened up a whole new way of getting around.
Bike the Borough
Bike the Borough is a fun cycling event taking place on Saturday 22 June, 2013.
Participants follow a signed route around the borough, complete with short cuts for little legs! You can go it alone or join one of the led rides which set off from a range of designated hubs on the hour. Plus you can pick up a ‘passport’ and get it stamped as you go and identify local landmarks for a chance to win prizes.
For more info see www.facebook.com/biketheborough
Dr Bike
Bring your bike to one of our Dr Bike sessions this summer for a free bike check and bike registration, plus an opportunity to jump into the cab of a lorry and see from the driver’s point of view, and much more. Dr Bike venues and dates are as follows:
Brixton Windrush Square – SW2 1JQ
7 May, 4 June, 2 July, 3 September
Clapham Common Northside – SW4 0PN
14 May, 11 June, 9 July, 10 September
Kings College Waterloo – SE1 8WA
21 May, 18 June, 16 July, 17 September
Kennington Triangle – SE11 4PP
28 May, 25 June, 23 July, 24 September
Streatham Common - SW16 3BT
30 July
Pioneering new bike storage aims to stop thieves in their tracks
As part of the Grass Routes project, Lambeth Council is introducing 27 on-street secure overnight ‘Lambeth Bike Hangars’ between Oval and Stockwell. Each new facility will protect 6 bikes, stopping thieves in their tracks and helping more people to take up regular cycling. Developed in partnership with local engineering geniuses ‘Cyclehoop’, the Lambeth Bike Hangars will also look great on the street.
In addition, Lambeth Council is making history as the first borough in the UK to employ a residential cycle parking officer to help local people discover solutions to their cycle parking needs.
A space in one of Lambeth’s pioneering Bike Hanger shelters costs £42 a year – that’s just £3.50 per month. You can apply for a space now at www.cyclehoop.com/rentals.
Road Danger Reduction – Lambeth’s perspective
Lambeth's Road Danger Reduction strategy aims to lower road risk at its source.
This approach involves improving the environment to encourage people to choose active, non-polluting forms of transport, such as walking and cycling, which pose the least risk to other road users, as well as introducing measures to reduce vehicle speeds, and encouraging more considerate and vigilant behaviour from all road users.
Giving bikes an advantage over cars – converting streets from one-way to two-way for cycling.
Most streets begin life as two-way streets but are made one-way to reduce rat running, to improve the flow of motor traffic, or to increase space for car parking – or all three. In other words, one-way streets are introduced to manage or accommodate motor traffic, but they almost always disadvantage people using cycles – by making for longer cycling distances and, in many cases, heightening danger as drivers may be less careful when they know that nothing will be coming the other way.
Lambeth Council policy is to encourage cycling by making it an attractive transport option. The bicycle can be given a major advantage over motorised modes by making cycle access much more direct and extensive. 21 streets in Lambeth have recently been converted from one-way to two-way for cycling, using simple engineering and signage. Whilst the work on the ground is simple, the legal requirements to make the change from one-way to two-way are time-consuming. Lambeth is looking into the possibility of developing a blanket traffic order to convert all one-way streets to two-way for cycling. Individual streets could then be converted in a rolling programme over the next few years.
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email cycling@lambeth.gov.uk
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