Cycling is a healthy, clean, cheap and often quicker way of getting around the borough when compared to using a car. By switching trips from cars to bikes we help reduce CO2 emissions, improve air quality and reduce congestion - benefiting the whole community.
Recognising these benefits, our new transport strategy (the Local Implementation Plan 2011-2031) has set a target to double the number of cyclists by 2026. In practice this means increasing the number of trips made by bike which originate in the borough from around 15,000 a day to 30,000. This would mean Hounslow having one of the highest modal shares for cycling in outer London.
What are we doing to promote cycling?
Projects to promote cycling fall largely fall under the following eight programmes:
Cycle Superhighway 9 (Hyde Park to Hounslow Town Centre)
A new exemplar cycle route is being designed, which will run through the spine of the borough, linking Chiswick, Brentford and Hounslow town centres. Cycle Superhighway 9 will open in 2013. We're working with Transport for London (TfL) to ensure that the route provides the best possible experience for cyclists. Further information will be available in 2012.
Biking Borough
Hounslow was the first of the Mayor of London's Biking Boroughs, following our successful hosting of the first outer London Skyride in 2009. This programme provides funding for a number of projects to promote cycling across the borough, but concentrated on our cycle hub area of Isleworth and Brentford. Projects include:
Improvements to the road network for cyclists in Isleworth and Brentford including:
New cycle accesses on Tallow Road/Market Place
A contraflow cycle lane at St Pauls/Half Acre
Improved surfacing and access for cyclists through St Pauls Recreation Ground
Improvements to the segregated cycle track along Mogden Lane, and a new route along Whitton dene to link this to Glen Walk
A new access for cyclists at Bridge Road/Woodlands
A cycle bypass around the chicanes on Green Dragon Lane
Trialling a Brompton Dock cycle rental system at the Civic Centre
Improvements to residential cycle parking across the borough
Recruitment of community cycle champions who can promote cycling to their peers and communities
Continuation of the Bike It programme at local schools
Network 2020
This programme seeks to identify up to 100 improvement schemes across the borough that can be implemented in tandem with the Highways Maintenance PFI Core Investment Period (2013-2018). By allocating funding in this way we should achieve significant economies by dovetailing improvements with asset renewal (e.g. resurfacing roads or repaving footways). This will also help reduce disruption caused by roadworks.
In order to help identify schemes which will form part of this programme, we have set up an online mapping tool on the Hounslow Travelactive website.
Greenways
We're developing a network of accessible routes for cyclists and walkers across our parks and open spaces. In the last few years this includes new or improved routes through Cranford and Avenue Park, Hounslow Heath and Crane Park. Future projects include Hanworth Park, Gunnersbury Park and Lampton Park.
For more information please see the Greenways section of the delivery plan in our new transport strategy.
Hounslow Travel Active
This campaign, jointly promoted with NHS Hounslow, seeks to promote active travel methods as a way of increasing physical activity levels in the borough.
To find out more visit the Hounslow Travelactive website or email travelactive@hounslow.gov.uk.
Cycle confidence training
We know that getting back onto two wheels after a long time and riding on London's roads can be daunting at first. That's why we offer free on-road cycle training for children and adults.
School travel planning
We're working with all schools in the borough to promote cycling to pupils, staff and parents. This often includes improving cycle routes around schools (or introducing 20mph zones) and improving cycle parking. For more information visit our school travel plan pages.
Business travel planning
We're keen to work with businesses to promote cycling to those who work in the borough. When resources allow we have provided some funding towards improved facilities (particularly cycle parking) and given out free promotional materials for handing out to staff. If you would like to find out more please email some details about your workplace (location, number of employees, nature of work) to travelplans@hounslow.gov.uk.
