London,
22
March
2009
|
23:00
Europe/London

Top transport award for Hackney Council

Hackney has been crowned the best borough in London for transport. The Council won the top prize at the London Transport Awards in recognition of its work to boost green travel through investment in cycling, walking, public transport and road safety. A judging panel of industry experts felt Hackney was now leading the rest of London in sustainable transport.

The award comes after six years of investment by the Council to improve transport links and traffic flow, upgrade road surfaces, and promote safe and eco-friendly travel.

As a result, the borough is ranked number one in the UK for growth in cycling. Hackney also now has over 70 schools with a travel plan to help reduce school run congestion, and has seen a 75 per cent increase in the number of Council staff walking, cycling or using public transport to get to work.

On the important issue of road safety, the Council met all its 2010 accident reduction targets, three years ahead of schedule in 2007, and has a policy of adopting a 20mph limit on all its roads. It has also secured better transport links – the culmination of a four-year campaign led by Mayor Jules Pipe – with improvements to the East and North London lines underway, including building four new stations in Dalston, Haggerston, Hoxton and Shoreditch and more frequent trains by 2012.

The Council was also commended in the Cycling Improvements category at the awards ceremony on 18th March.

Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This award is recognition of the commitment of Hackney Council to working with residents to improve our streets for everyone.

“The Council’s investment in walking and cycling networks, road safety schemes and street improvements is paying off with more residents cycling than anywhere else in London, improvements to the walking environment, reducing the number of children being driven to school and a reduction in road accidents. All in all, Hackney can be proud that we are leading the way in London.”