Cycling in Tower Hamlets
Cycling is an efficient, cheap, healthy, non-polluting mode of
transport. Tower Hamlets Council wishes to encourage cycling to
help improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and improve
health in the borough.
Barclays Cycle Hire bikes will be available across
most of Tower Hamlets from March 2012, as well as central London.
Full details can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire.
There will be a network of over 100 Barclays Cycle Hire docking
stations in Tower Hamlets, providing 2,700 docking points and over
2,000 bikes. More information is now
available.
Free one-to-one cycle training with fully
qualified cycling instructors is available for any adult who lives,
works or studies in Tower Hamlets. Training is available for
all levels, from complete beginner to experienced cyclist, and
includes a cycle buddying service, in which the cycle instructor
can accompany you on a useful cycling journey. Bicycles are
available for those who do not have one and female instructors can
be provided if required. From February 2012 cycle training
sessions can also take place using Barclays Cycle Hire bikes
at docking stations in the Borough. Family cycle training
lessons are also available. To book a session, contact Bikeworks on
0208 980 7998 or e-mail: cycle.training@bikeworks.org.uk For
full details click here.
Residents of all ages and abilities in Tower Hamlets can now
take advantage of the new and improved All Ability Cycling Club,
funded by Tower Hamlets Council and run by Bikeworks in Victoria
Park. The club is free to attend and open to all, regardless of age
or ability. To find out more click the link to this page.
Cycle map and route development
The Tower Hamlets cycle
map (pdf, 1.5mb) can be viewed here (You need Adobe Acrobat to
view this map, which you can download for free).
The council is committed to new cycle routes being introduced
wherever possible, in accordance with London wide initiatives. This
work is taking place in partnership with adjoining boroughs and
other organisations. We have made the safety and convenience of
cyclists a priority in the design and implementation of all new
traffic management measures and new developments.
Most recently we have worked with Transport for London on
bringing Barclays Cycle Superhighways through the borough, and the
Council is currently developing the Connect 2 route which makes use
of off-road links and quieter roads to link Bow to Bethnal
Green.
Several community groups in the Borough offer a variety of
cycling programmes including led rides, maintenance
workshops, cycle training and other activities. To find out
more click this link.
News
Tower Hamlets Council regularly run 'Dr Bike' sessions
(providing free check ups and minor repairs such as adjustments of
brakes on bikes), and wherever possible aim to combine these
with cycle safety/HGV awareness exercises. This includes showing
cyclists into the cab of a HGV, highlighting 'blind spots' from the
driver's perspective and other safety aspects.
Note that the next Dr Bike will take place on Wednesday,
March 14, 7.45am to 9.45am, in Victoria Park, Bonner
Gate. An 'exchanging places' session with a HGV will take place at
the same time.
To view the latest TfL Cycle Safety/HGV awareness video and
related information, click through to
these TfL pages.
To find out more about other current cycling and walking
schemes in Tower Hamlets through our latest quarterly newsletter
see the link below:
Cycle parking
Tower Hamlets Council provides a range of on-street and
off-street cycle parking. More information will be provided
shortly. For details of individual cycle lockers on
residential estates that can be rented out see this web
link.