Around Ealing Spring 2014 | Page 31

Artist’s view of the new hub North Acton cycle hub CYCLING parks, taking in the borough’s sights while building riders’ confidence. Advice for cyclists, and bike checks, will also be provided to help you on your way. The rides will leave Gunnersbury and Brent Lodge parks, in Acton and Hanwell, every hour between 10am and 4pm. To sign up for the ride, visit www.ealing.gov.uk/cycleride Construction of a brand new ‘cycle hub’ outside North Acton station is nearing completion. When opened, the new hub will have capacity to hold up to 48 bikes in secure bike stands. Each stand will be individually lit and the entire structure DID will be fully monitored by CCTV. YOU KNOW? It builds on the No matter where you are success of the Ealing in the borough, Ealing Broadway cycle hub, reducing unnecessary Broadway is no more Cycle training which opened in distractions which can than a 30-minute bike Last year, Ealing Council’s award-winning 2012 and recorded an be caused by other ride away on-road cycle training programme average usage of 88% detection alarms. ensured that more than 1,000 children in its first year. The success of the trial and adults gained in confidence and Councillor Mahfouz said: has led the system being encouraged them to make more “The number of people cycling in included in a new TfL-funded project, journeys by bike. You can take training, the borough has been on the rise which will independently test a range get general advice on cycling or benefit for years and Acton is no exception, of ‘blind spot’ safety technology. from maintenance skills training at one so it was important we provided the The council is now looking at of the one-day classes run by the infrastructure to support this increasing trying out the system out with council. Contact CTUK on demand. The new cycle hub will other heavy goods vehicles 0800 093 6454 (£5 for provide good quality, secure storage within its fleet, which is DID adults, concessions for bikes – and at no cost to cyclists.” operated by Murrills available). Construction. YOU KNOW? Safety trial success Over the past six months, the council has carried out a trial of an innovative new lorry safety system which warns drivers when cyclists and pedestrians are close to the vehicle. The data collected at the halfway point (March 2014) revealed a significant 8% improvement in driver behaviour, owing to a reduction in speed, better indication and maintaining safer distances between other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The trial also showed a 2% saving in fuel efficiency. The Cycle Safety Shield System is the first of its kind that can detect cyclists, pedestrians and motorcycles 360 degrees around ѡ