100,000 new bike spaces needed to cope with cycle boom

Central London needs 100,000 extra cycle parking spaces to keep pace with soaring bike use, campaigners said today.

An Evening Standard survey found dramatic differences in provision for bikes between city centre boroughs. Some of the busiest railway stations had no parking facilities at all.

The lack of secure cycle facilities has been highlighted by the Evening Standard's Safer Cycling campaign, and by Conservative leader David Cameron when his bike was stolen after he locked it to a 2ft bollard in Portobello Road.

Evening Standard survey found there were more than 25,000 official cycle spaces in central London.

At the major rail terminals, run by Network Rail, there were 1,211 spaces for bikes. But some stations, including Cannon Street and Charing Cross, had none. Spaces at stations are either railings similar to those used by councils, which can be used to lock two bikes to, or mounts that hold one.

Network Rail plans to add 500 spaces at King's Cross that will also benefit St Pancras commuters.

Councils have put in about 3,000 spaces in the past year and have plans for more than 2,000 this year.

Official estimates say 500,000 bike journeys are made in London every day - an increase of 91 per cent since 2000. The vast majority take place in central boroughs.

Campaigners say this is why cyclists struggle to find suitable secure parking.

Tom Bogdanowicz, spokesman for London Cycling Campaign, said: "I know that councils are installing more racks but there aren't enough and they're not keeping up with the growth of cycling in the capital. We need another 100,000.

"All too often you will see a cyclist trying to squeeze their bike on a stand meant to keep two bikes secure when it has already got three on it.

"It's not just the councils that need to take responsibility, employers need to provide cycle facilities.

"A car parking space is very expensive in central London but if an employer can provide a secure space for a bike and install showers then they benefit too."

Councils apply to Transport for London for funding to install cycle stands on their streets. TfL installs its own on red routes. Many local authorities demand bike stands are included in major planning applications. Tower Hamlets insists on one bike stand per 125 square metres of retail space and one for each new flat.

A TfL spokeswoman said: "Cycle journeys in the capital have nearly doubled in the last eight years, which has led to greater demand for cycle parking. "Since 2000, we've installed more than 53,000 new cycle parking spaces across London - on-street and in schools and workplaces. We are working with councils, businesses, schools and train operating companies on installing new spaces. Boris Johnson has asked us to install an additional 13,000. He is committed to delivering the new cycling spaces as well as a bike hire scheme and is working with London Councils to ensure these initiatives are delivered."