CTC Press Release
15 February 2010
Massive increase in cycle parking needed to meet targets for cycle-rail travel
The Government must make faster progress integrating railways with other forms of transport if it is to persuade people to stop using their cars, according to a report by House of Commons Transport Committee published today. To make this a reality CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation believes there should be a substantial investment in providing cycle access, parking, hire and storage at stations. In addition, there also needs to be space for carrying cycles on new and refurbished trains.
CTC’s Campaigns and Policy Director Roger Geffen said: “Currently cycle parking provision at most stations is woefully inadequate, with many cyclists having to lock their bikes to railings and lampposts. Secure cycle parking would also reverse the increase in bike theft at railway stations and would actually encourage many more people to cycle to the station.”
CTC has also responded to the Government-commissioned Better Rail Stations report, which called for the provision of sufficient cycle parking for 5% of rail passengers – the current figure is 1.6%. CTC strongly supports this target, but has calculated there will need to be 125,000 cycle spaces available at Britain’s 88 busiest stations, up from fewer than 8,000 at present. In particular, 14 central Londonstations will need to have 67,612 spaces, 50 times the 1,365 currently provided.
CTC believes that a dramatic increase in cycle parking spaces is achievable. The Mayor of London is planning an additional 66,000 cycle parking spaces for the capital’s rail stations; and in Holland, where a third of rail journeys involve cycle travel to or from the station, it is common to provide cycle parking for 10% of a city’s total population.
For more information please contact the CTC Press Office on 0844 736 8453.
Notes to editors
- CTC - the UK’s national cyclists' organisation, with 70,000 members and affiliates in 250 clubs across the UK, is the oldest and largest cycling body in the UK, established in 1878. We provide a comprehensive range of services, advice, events, and protection for our members and work to promote cycling by raising public and political awareness of its health, social and environmental benefits. For more information see http://www.ctc.org.uk.
- The Transport Select Committee - Priorities for investment in the railways:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmtran/38/3802.htm
- Transport Committee report: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtran.htm
- Better Rail Stations report: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/stations/betterrailstations/
- Government response to Better Rail Stations report: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/passenger/stations/betterstationsresponse/
- CTC’s calculations on rail stations cycle parking: http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=5327
- The Government and Cycling England between them have plans for £14m of investment in cycle-rail integration, including plans for 14 ‘cycle hubs’ at major rail stations such as Leeds, Paddington and Waterloo. Waterloo will need spaces for 13,740 cycles to meet the minimum standards. CTC notes however that there plenty of space available in the large empty Eurostar terminal, whereas providing the 10,611 cycle spaces required at Victoria station may prove more challenging.
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