Organisation
Lambeth Council
Theme
Transport
Goals
Climate-friendly streets, Shift modes
Lambeth Council is working with businesses in the Waterloo area to make it easier and safer for workers to cycle to and through the area and create streets fit for the future.
Lambeth has installed three cycle hangars outside businesses in the Waterloo area as part of a trial scheme to create more secure cycle parking for their staff members. Enabling businesses to rent on-street cycle hangars for secure cycle parking is a London and UK first, demonstrating that we are leading the way in making our roads and neighbourhoods more climate resilient.
Lambeth Council developed the trial in collaboration with businesses in Waterloo and the WeAreWAterloo Business Improvement District after they highlighted the growing need for safer cycle parking for their employees and visitors. A lot of the properties have limited space off-street, or where they only use parts of their buildings, they don’t have access to provide secure storage. Lambeth put out a call for interest over the summer (opens in a new window) and then worked with suppliers LockItSafe to set up hangers for three businesses.
The businesses rent the hangar or part of it at a commercial rate, £100 per space per year or £600 per hangar per year. The price for businesses reflects the commercial value of the space and the increased maintenance and servicing regime, and any excess funds will be used to subsidise the residential cycle hangar programme.
Comments from Councillor Chowdhury
“We are absolutely determined to enable everyone to commute to work by bike if they want to, but we know that the experience of having your bike stolen can a terrible shock or risk that puts people off. We know that the solution involves strong and secure cycle lockers and we are excited to collaborate with businesses to see them delivered where workers want them in Waterloo”.
“Every year we are delivering more and more cycle infratructure across the borough meaning it’s safer than ever to cycle in Lambeth. I’m pleased that we are also making progress on delivering safe places for people to store their bikes when they arrive.”
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air
Quotes from partner organisations
“Having worked with Lambeth Council delivering over 150 Bike Nests for their residential programme for the past 12 months, we were delighted to be able to help with the rollout of Lambeth’s Bike Nest programme for businesses within the Borough.
The first three Business Bike Nests have already been installed and are in use, and we are pleased to have been able to provide highly secure cycle parking to local companies, their employees, and visitors.”
Matt Smith, Director of Lockit-Safe
"It's great to have a convenient and safe place to lock my bike at work, and you can fit six bikes in the Bike Nest where one car would normally park. Having worked on active travel grants for nearly ten years at Groundwork London, I know secure bike storage is key to encouraging more people to cycle, which has huge benefits for the environment and wellbeing of communities."
Martin Petry, Grants Manager at Groundwork London
The trial will last until the summer of 2025, when it will be reviewed, engaging with the users and evaluating its effectiveness to see if it is possible to roll out this programme more widely.
This partnership between WeAreWaterloo BID (opens in a new window), South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us (opens in a new window), and Lambeth Council helps us deliver the Waterloo and South Bank Future Neighbourhood plan and the council’s award-winning Kerbside Strategy (opens in a new window) and Climate Action Plan (opens in a new window).
Schemes like this will further help us to reclaim a quarter of the curbside space from car parking to allow for more community parklets, cycle infrastructure, and climate-resilient measures. By reclaiming space for people on our streets, we are making it easier and safer for everyone to walk, wheel, scoot, and cycle, creating neighbourhoods fit for the future.
