In a bid to promote active travel and combat air pollution, Ealing Council has successfully installed 25 new bike hangars across the borough.
As part of their £10 million investment to support active travel, the council aimed to provide safe and affordable storage for bicycles, benefiting residents like Ricardo, who shared his positive experience in a short video.
Councillor Peter Mason, the Leader of Ealing Council, expressed his satisfaction with the project’s progress, stating, “We have installed 25 new bike hangars across the borough, providing safe and affordable storage for your bike. Helping more people to take up active travel is a really important part of our commitment to tackling air pollution and the climate crisis.”
The council actively engaged with the community, seeking their input on bike hangar locations through a consultation process. Nearly 350 people participated in the consultation, sharing their opinions and preferences. The feedback underlined the importance of considering criteria such as the volume of requests from residents, limited access to garages or sheds, the prevalence of bike thefts, wider community support, and the distribution of hangars throughout the borough.
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for climate change, expressed their determination to support Ealing residents in cycling more. “Providing safe and accessible storage spaces for residents’ bikes is part of that,” she added. “Thank you to the 350 local people who engaged in the consultation last year and had their say on where they wanted storage for their bikes. We promised we will be taking decisions together with residents, and so the 25 new bike hangars are all in locations suggested by the community.”
One of the significant outcomes of the consultation is the reduction in bike hangar costs. Previously priced at £6 per month, the council has significantly lowered the fee to a mere 70p per month, making Ealing bike hangars the most affordable in London.
Looking ahead, Ealing residents are encouraged to continue sharing their suggestions for bike hangar locations, ensuring that the council remains responsive to their needs. The council plans to install an additional 25 bike hangars across the borough by the end of this summer, with a long-term goal of having at least 150 hangars by 2026.
