8,000 new cycle parking spaces across London

Transport for London has awarded funding of more than £3.5 million to 30 London boroughs to build thousands of new cycle parking spaces across the capital.

The 30 London boroughs will create 7,800 new cycle spaces in town centres, stations, schools and residential areas, with the funding set to enable thousands more cycle journeys to take place each week by ensuring more journeys begin and end with a place to park, with the first spaces set to be in place by the spring.

As such, 24 schools will have 480 new spaces to enable more pupils to cycle to school in Bromley, while 600 new spaces will enable even more people to cycle to key central London destinations thanks to the investment in the City of London and Westminster.

In Wandsworth, four town centres will share 80 new spaces, enabling more people to cycle to the shops, while in Hackney and Islington, 1,100 new spaces at stations, schools and residential areas will help to cater for the boroughs' high levels of cycle journeys.

The funding is part of TfL's Cycle Parking Implementation Plan, published last year, which showed that thousands of new parking spaces are needed to keep up with increased levels of cycling. The organisation is working with councils, schools, universities and hospitals across the capital to ensure the number of cycle parking spaces can meet demand.

Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “We are determined to get more Londoners onto their bikes to help to tackle congestion and make the city greener. As well as continuing to make cycling safer, we know it's vital that we make the beginning and the end of people's journeys as simple and hassle free as possible. Alongside our investment in high-quality routes, we are extremely pleased that this new funding for cycle parking facilities will enable thousands more Londoners from all corners of the capital to hop on a bike.”

Penny Rees, TfL's Head of Healthy Streets Investment and Delivery, said: “Thousands more Londoners each year are discovering the many benefits of cycling, from better health to reduced carbon emissions, but we know how frustrating it can be when there's nowhere to leave your bike at the start or end of a journey. Our investment with the boroughs will help to ensure that our streets are geared up for cycling, making it even easier, quicker and more attractive for people to go about their everyday journeys by bike.”