Transport News - May 2008
Funding for Jewish women cyclists
Hackney's Jewish women’s cycling club has been given a boost with a grant for new equipment and training from the Community Cycling Fund for London.
Set up by the Jewish Maternity Programme (JUMP) the club helps Orthodox Jewish women gain access to leisure activities in an all-female environment.
The initiative is tailored according to the women’s needs and aims to tackle issues that affect Orthodox Jewish women.
Sessions take place twice a week at a local primary School in a traffic-free environment.
Club and JUMP manager, Gitit Rottenburg, said:
“Jewish women face many difficulties when trying to access public leisure activities.
“The main one is that they are unable to access an all-female sports environment, as well as not being able to use sports equipment which has to meet the need to maintain cultural requirements of modesty.”
This is the second round of funding the project has received and the club is hoping to take on another ten participants over the next year.
The project will end with a ‘fun ride’ event for the participants and their families to celebrate their achievements.
Booze ban for transport
Driking alcohol on London’s buses and Tubes will be banned from the start of next month.
From the 1 June anyone who is caught drinking from bottles or cans while travelling will be warned and, if they resist could be ejected from the bus or Tube on which they are travelling.
By next year it will be a criminal offence and punishable by a fine.
As well as buses and Tubes, the ban applies to the Dockland Light Railway and tram services, although the London Overground will be unaffected.
Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said:
“Alcohol Concern welcomes the decision to ban drinking on all Transport for London services.
“Public drinking and the behaviour sometimes associated with it can, and does, deeply affect people’s ability to enjoy public spaces.”
The Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police support the ban, which will be implemented after legal changes and consultation with staff.
Touch in to zip about
Young people will need to touch in using Oyster photocards from the start of next month if they want to continue receiving free travel on London’s buses and trams.
Parents and carers are being reminded that the new rules apply to those aged between 11 and 15 who qualify for free travel. Currently only those aged 14 and over need to do so.
Anyone without an Oyster photocard will be refused free travel on buses and trams and will have to pay the adult fare from 1 June.
Children and teenagers who already have Oyster cards don’t need to replace them until they expires.
Zip Oyster photocards are free and can be applied for at Post Offices.
More information
More information is available at www.tfl.gov.uk/zip.
Route to more jobs
A Hackney transport group has joined forces with another of the country’s leading social enterprises to provide a bus service for Olympic workers.
Hackney Community Transport and Ealing Community Transport have merged to form E&HCT.
Together they will carry workers around the massive Olympic site, reducing the number of private vehicles on roads, cutting congestion and pollution.
E&HCT is committed to employing local people and targeting those who are most in need of jobs. Drivers, vehicle maintenance, vehicle decommissioning, route planning and time-tabling staff will all be needed.
Dai Powell, HCT chief executive, said: “We are really delighted to be participating in this landmark project and, through its operation, to demonstrate once again how social enterprise can play an important part in the delivery of public transport services.”
Kim Wright, Council Corporate Director for Community Services, said:
“Work for local business and jobs for local people are a key priority for Hackney as a 2012 host borough. It is pleasing to see positive results coming through with local businesses getting 2012-related contracts. The Council also has a recruitment centre called On Site to promote 2012 jobs and businesses can apply for 2012 contracts using the CompeteFor online database.”
E&HCT were awarded the four-year contract by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). It’s director of transport, Hugh Sumner, said: “They were successful due to their commitment to making a difference to the areas in which they operate.”
And bike lanes for the spectators
Residents could be keeping fit as they travel to watch the 2012 Games.
Millions of pounds will be spent on boosting cycle paths in the run-up to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in order to encourage spectators to arrive at events by bike. Plans include improving existing lanes and building new ones to create a network of safe cycle routes for all ages and abilities.
Hugh Sumner, director of transport for the Olympic Development Authority (ODA), said: “One of our key areas of concern is ensuring that groups such as young families, or people who do not cycle regularly in London, feel confident and safe enough to cycle to London 2012 events.
“We are investing money in developing and improving both off-road cycle routes on canal towpaths and greenways and on-road routes using quieter roads and parks linking to the Olympic Park and other venues.”
Full proposals will be published later this year when the routes for new lanes will be announced, one of which may run from Finsbury Park to Victoria Park next to the Olympic site.
Cycle funding
Community groups are being urged to apply for grants worth up to £5,000 from this year’s Community Cycling Fund for London.
The fund supports groups who want to help increase the number of people cycling in their area with grants to help run local rides, events or other small scale projects that will encourage and grow cycling within London’s many diverse communities.
Community groups have just one month left to apply for the final round of grants. Applications must be received before 16 May. For information about the grants and how to apply visit: www.lcc.org.uk.
Page updated: 28 May 2008