Thursday 21 May 2009
DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR CYCLISTS AT EUSTON
- Region & Route:
- | North West & Central
More cyclists than ever before can now ‘park and ride’ at Euston following the unveiling of two new double-decker cycle racks at the station this week.
Previously cyclists complained of problems finding a space to park their bikes, with frequent occurrences of ‘double parking’. The new racks - which cost £37,000 and were paid for by Transport for London (TfL) - have more than doubled the number of cycle parking spaces at the station from 96 to 234.
Cycling in London has increased by 91% since 2000 so the new facilities will provide for growing cyclist demand and also help promote ‘green’ travel. With the number of passengers using Euston station increasing by a third following the completion of the £9bn West Coast Mainline upgrade and the successful introduction of a new timetable last December, the extra spaces are a much needed addition for passengers.
Janine Sykes, Euston station manger, said: “The new double-decker racks are safe, secure and simple to use, giving many more people the cleaner, greener option of cycling to and from Euston. We’re pleased to have worked with TfL on this project and will continue to explore ways to increase the provision of cycle racks at other stations across the capital.”
Head of Cycling, Walking and Accessibility at TfL, Peter McBride, said: “Many people want to be able to incorporate the freedom of cycling into their daily journeys. TfL is helping people make this choice by working hard with partners such as Network Rail to provide good quality cycle parking at stations and on street, at school and where people work.
“These new facilities at Euston will give commuters and visitors alike somewhere to leave their bikes which is safe and convenient and we hope this will encourage many more people to take to two wheels to get around the city.”
All cycling racks at Euston are located within 50m of the station entrance, allowing easy and fast access to the concourse. The stands are located in easily visible areas and have CCTV coverage for extra security.
Notes to editors
A survey of cycle users carried out by Network Rail last year found that 85% of people questioned reported having problems with finding a space to park their bikes, with more than half (53%) experiencing problems on a daily basis. Since Transport for London was created in 2000, approximately 20,000 new cycle stands, providing parking for 40,000 bicycles, have been installed on London’s streets.Contact information
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