Transport News - March 2008
Polite two ting
Cyclists and pedestrians have taken part in a safety awareness event at the Kingsland Basin towpath near De Beauvoir town.
Over 250 towpath users stopped on their morning commute to receive vital safety advice over a shared breakfast.
The event last month was run by Groundwork, on behalf of British Waterways. Staff and partners talked about the Two Tings campaign which asks cyclists to ring their bell twice to alert approaching pedestrians, who have priority over them.
It also asks cyclists to ride at a sensible speed, go by people slowly, and for pedestrians to listen out for the two tings and allow cyclists to pass.
During the morning, volunteers also fitted 28 bells to cycles that didn’t have one and police officers registered bikes as an anti-theft measure.
Hackney Council staff gave out alternative cycle route maps to riders who want to speed faster than is safe along the towpath.
Last year saw major safety improvements on the canal along with a code of conduct developed to protect all users. Further improvements are taking place this month.
Louise Fishleigh, leisure development manager for British Waterways London, said: “The project is part of an ongoing London-wide British Waterways programme to make towpaths safer, more attractive and accessible to the thousands of people who use them every day.”
Another safety event will be held on 13 March at Acton Lock at the eastern end of Whiston Road, Haggerston.
More information
For details of the new Code of Conduct, or events, call: 020 7985 7200; or visit: www.waterscape.com/twotings
Straight to the airport
The Piccadilly line, which serves stations used by Hackney residents, will link up with Heathrow Terminal 5 for the first time later this month.
Passengers will be able to travel directly to the airport from Manor House and Finsbury Park from 27 March.
London Underground began trials on the extension back in July 2007 to ensure all aspects of the rail service would be operated safely and reliably, ahead of the first passenger services.
Buses on the Beat
Hackney now has its own police team dedicated to patrolling its buses.
It is one of 11 boroughs to get its own Safer Transport Team of 35 Police and Community Support Officers who will provide a reassuring presence for passengers.
The move comes after outer London boroughs got an extra 440 Safer Transport Team officers last year. This led to bus related crime falling by 11 per cent across London between April and September 2007, compared to 2006. Following a review funded by TfL, it was decided to expand the teams to inner London boroughs. It also recommended that some functions continue to be carried out by specialist teams that will cover the whole of the capital.
These include the BusTag and Dip teams that specialise in combating criminal damage and pick pocketing respectively. Steve Burton, TfL Director of Community Safety, Enforcement and Policing said: “We have had five years of targeted policing on the bus network, and the result is that we now have the lowest rate of crime on buses in that time.
“The success of the Safer Transport Teams in outer London is testament to the effectiveness of this borough based approach where teams of police get to know the communities they are working in, as well as the hot spots for crime and disorder."
Page updated: 1 May 2008