Transport News - December 2008
A play on the road
An interactive play is helping primary school pupils understand road safety issues and the benefits of sustainable transport.
Box Clever Theatre Company’s ‘Car Story’ had children at Colverston school falling about laughing.
It follows the story of Polly and her father as they travel to school, and covers the Green Cross Code; where and how to use roads safely; and alternatives to car travel.
One pupil said: “I thought it was a funny way of reminding people how to be safe on the road.”
Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods, said: “The fact that 47 out of 62 students who saw the play, had walked to school that day is excellent.”
The Council’s School Travel Plan team organised the free performances in November, as a reward for schools that had completed annual reviews of their plans, which monitor how pupils and staff are getting to school.
The aim is to set out practical ways to reduce the number of car trips to schools for pupils, parents and staff. They promote healthy living and sustainable and safer transport for the whole school community.
More information
For further details about school travel plans call: 020 8356 8469; 8470 or 8040.
Have your say on car club bays
The success of Hackney Car Club has led to proposals for 63 new bays to be created around the borough.
The club currently has over 2,000 members and has grown in popularity since its launch last year, with hundreds of people requesting bays in their area. Residents in 32 proposed locations for the new bays are being asked by the Council to give their views on the plans.
Car club members can benefit from a cheaper alternative to owning a car as there is no tax, insurance, parking permits, servicing or repairs to worry about.
Members book a car by phone, or via the internet, and the vehicle can be picked up at designated bays across the borough.
The scheme aims to relieve parking pressures, reduce reliance on privately-owned vehicles and provide residents who cannot afford to run a car with access to a vehicle.
More information
To know more about the car club, visit: www.streetcar.co.uk. To have you say, visit: www.consultationfinder.com/hackney/
Extra cash for Overground
Passengers using London Overground stations between Dalston Kingsland and Hackney Wick are set to benefit from a Government funding boost.
Transport Secretary, Geoff Hoon, has announced an extra £54million to upgrade the Camden to Stratford part of the North London Line.
This will mean the existing two tracks can be increased to four in the Camden area after 2012. The funding is intended to alleviate bottlenecks and improve signalling and other infrastructure, in order to provide more capacity for passenger and freight trains.
TfL is already investing £326million in upgrading the London Overground infrastructure and part of this work will allow eight passenger trains to run per hour at peak times, and six per hour off-peak, between Stratford and Camden Road stations by 2011.
TfL London Rail Managing Director, Ian Brown, said: “We welcome this additional investment in London’s transport infrastructure. It will bring greater capacity on a strategic North London route which must carry both passenger and freight services.”
The London Overground between Richmond and Stratford recently returned to running a full service after two and a half months of engineering works across the network, part of a wider improvement plan to upgrade tracks, strengthen bridges and widen a tunnel.
What’s green and red?
Two of Hackney’s bus routes saw more eco-friendly hybrid buses join the fleet this month.
The 276, which runs from Stoke Newington to Newham, and the 141, from Tottenham to London Bridge, were two of only five routes to benefit in the capital.
The new hybrid buses are cleaner and greener than diesel models. The combination of a conventional engine and an electric motor, uses less fuel and is better for air quality, as they emit fewer pollutants and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40 per cent.
By the end of January next year, the number of hybrid buses in London will more than quadruple to 56, confirming the capital’s position as the home of the largest fleet of hybrid buses in the UK. A further 300 hybrid buses are set to be in operation by 2011.
£3m borough boost
A multi-million funding boost for transport improvements in Hackney has been announced by Transport for London (TfL).
The £3.3million package will be used to cut road deaths, improve town centres and cycling facilities, and carry out essential road maintenance.
London boroughs are to be given greater freedom to develop and deliver the schemes they want, providing more choice over a range of key local schemes.
Among the projects to benefit is the Gillett Square Streets For People scheme, a £400,000 cash injection will create wider footways, better street lighting, trees and pedestrian facilities in Dalston town centre.
The Hackney Cycle Training Programme will use £200,000 in extra funding to provide free courses to enable more residents to develop the skills and confidence to cycle in London. In 2007/08 Hackney trained over 1,100 children and 350 adults and numbers are increasing every year.
Walking routes between Hackney Central and London Fields will see £100,000 worth of improvements to footway surfaces, new crossings and safety measures.
It is hoped these works will encourage more people to take up walking by creating more direct routes and reducing traffic impact.
The road surface and pavements on Green Lanes will also get a £238,000 revamp to correct uneven surfaces, potholes and cracks. There will also be money to introduce more 20mph zones, controlled parking and develop school and work travel plans.
Cycling scoops
Hackney projects have scooped prestigious London Cycling Campaign awards.
Family cycling clubs and a scheme providing safe bike lockers on an estate were honoured at a City Hall ceremony. The clubs encouraged 432 adults and young people to take up cycle training at Sir Thomas Abney and Tyssen primary schools, as well as Milton Grove, Wilton and Fellows Court estates. The initiative also offered help with buying a second hand bike and free cycle maintenance courses.
The clubs, which won the best cycling initiative for young people in London award, are run by STA Bikes in partnership with the Council and funded by Team Hackney. Sally Haywill, from STA Bikes said: “The fact this award reflects the hard work of everyone involved is superb.”
The scheme, which tackles health and environmental issues, has been commissioned for another year.
A bicycle lockers project on Frampton Park estate won the best cycle facility award. The local Tenants and Residents Association (TRA), supported by Hackney Homes, the Council and local police, developed the idea to deal with storage and security problems on the estate. 56 lockers were installed, with funding from TfL, and a bike users group set up.
Terry Edwards, TRA chair, said: “Bikes no longer need to be carried up flights of stairs, or stored on balconies or corridors.
We hope to see even more residents taking up cycling.”
For more call: 020 8356 2897 or visit the Move by Bike page.
Ride out the weather
The Council’s transport team is offering some hints to cyclists wanting to keep up their healthy routine safely and easily in the winter months.
- Get a basic service, including a brake and tyre check.
- A rear reflector plus front and rear lights are a must. Also consider investing in reflective and fluorescent clothing.
- At any time of year – or day – it really helps to plan your journey using quieter cycle routes.
- Have the confidence to avoid cycling too close to the kerb, which makes you less visible. Ride far enough from parked cars to avoid opening doors.
- Remember large vehicles have blind spots – if you can’t see their mirrors they can’t see you. Never cycle on the inside of a lorry as there is a chance it could turn left.
Cycle training can help you and your family cycle more confidently. To arrange a session call: 020 7231 6005.
Maps are available from the Council and TfL websites. Alternatively email: movegreener@hackney.gov.uk or call: 020 8356 8040.
Borrow a bike
A London-wide cycle hire scheme could be a reality by May 2010 – with Hackney set to benefit.
A feasibility study conducted by TfL concluded the project should go ahead. Under the plans, people could pick up and drop off hire bikes at 400 locations in Zone 1, with cycle hire stations in Hoxton and Shoreditch. Londoners could ride anywhere, but would have to return the bike to a docking station in the Zone 1 hire area.
The scheme is expected to generate around 40,000 extra daily cycle trips in central London. Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney, said: “I welcome this scheme, which will support the Council’s work to encourage more people to get on their bikes.
“We’re already ranked number one in the UK for growth in cycling. More people in Hackney cycle to work than any other borough in London. As a Council, we’re committed to making all roads suitable for cycling. We also offer free cycle training to anyone living, working or studying in Hackney.”
For more info about the planned cycle hire scheme visit: www.london.gov.uk.
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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