Press release
16 September 2003 -
London Boroughs Top the UK Cycling Growth League
A UK wide comparison of journeys to work shows that London boroughs lead the country in terms of the increasing proportion of journeys to work by bike. Cycling has jumped sharply in popularity as a mode of transport in seven inner London boroughs with Hackney ranked number one in the UK in terms of growth.
Hackney, beats districts like Cambridge and Bristol, in terms of the greatest increase in cycling to work from 1991 to 2001. In 2001 the proportion of journeys to work by bike in Hackney was 6.83% - an increase of almost 70% from the proportion in 1991 (4.03%) and more than 150% from 1981 (2.56%).
The inner London boroughs of Islington, Hammersmith & Fulham, Lambeth, Camden, Wandsworth and Southwark are all in the UK top 14 in terms of the increase in cycling. The study, by John Parkin of the Bolton Institute, is based on the 1981, 1991 and 2001 censuses.
Cambridge remains the UK district with the greatest amount of cycling (28.34% of journeys to work), but in terms of growth it loses out to Hackney.
Tom Bogdanowicz, LCC Campaigns Manager, said "Cycling is a fast, healthy and convenient mode of transport, it's not surprising that that more Londoners are cycling to work. More cycling means less congestion and less pollution so it's worth investing in making the conditions for cycling better right across London."
LCC's corporate affiliates, who include a range of leading companies, say that more staff are demanding improved cycle facilities at work such as secure cycle parking.
Recent data from Transport for London shows that cycling in the Central London area grew by 74% from 1993 - 2002. There's been a further increase of 16% in cycling into the congestion charge zone since the charge was introduced.
Press contact: Tom
Bogdanowicz, Campaigns Manager, London Cycling Campaign.
Tel: 020 7928 6112. email: tom@lcc.org.uk
Employer Contact: LCC offers a corporate affiliate program for employers who wish to encourage staff cycling email: corpaff@lcc.org.uk
- The rank ordering
of Districts with greater than 1% point increase in cycle mode share from
1991 - 2001 is :
Hackney 2.81%
Cambridge 2.28%
Bristol: City of UA 1.64%
Islington 1.63%
Reading UA 1.61%
Hamm & Fulham 1.41%
Lambeth 1.41%
Exeter 1.40%
Camden 1.32%
Oswestry 1.19%
Brighton UA 1.15%
Wandsworth 1.14%
Southwark 1.10%
Nottingham 1.00%
(Source: John Parkin, Bolton Institute 'Comparisons of cycle use for the
journey to work from the'81, '91 and 2001 censuses.' Traffic Engineering
and Control, September 2003) pdf file 135kb
Note to editors:
-The London Cycling Campaign is the largest urban cycling campaign in
the world.
- LCC's vision is a world class cycling city. LCC works to improve cycling
in London and also provides services to its members, including:
* Free third party insurance * Discounts in lots of London bike shops
* Access to theft insurance * Free cycle-friendly legal advice
* Free London Cyclist magazine * Leisure rides, social events and campaigns
* A growing network of busy and welcoming local groups