Cyclists and pedestrians have appealed for better cycling infrastructure in the ward after those on bikes were branded “a nuisance”.
The Hackney borough was recently voted London’s cycling capital, with 25 per cent of residents commuting to work by bike, receiving great enthusiasm in the local area.
But concerns have been raised over the safety of those on the roads.
Labour councillor for Hackney Central Ben Hayhurst said: “There are a small minority of cyclists who do not obey the Highway Code.
“Some older residents feel vulnerable and anxious of bikes as a result.”
One man, who walks to work every day, slammed cyclists as “a nuisance”.
“They think it’s a racing track”, he added. “They don’t seem to care for pedestrians at all.
“I feel vulnerable”, agreed another local, who suggested that drivers should be better educated. “We need more security.”
One young man said that the cycling facilities have improved, but argued that there is still a long way to go. “I’m from Holland, and I think to myself every day ‘how can they improve this area for cyclists?’
“The problem is that the streets are very narrow, so for planners it’s hard.
“But they need to improve the infrastructure, and create separate lanes for cyclists.”
Even cyclists themselves admitted that there is a problem.
“I cycle all the time,” one said. “But as a pedestrian, I often find cyclists quite annoying.”
Another young woman admitted, “I’m a bad cyclist myself. On a bike I consider myself both a pedestrian and a vehicle, so I jump between the road and pavement.”
Whilst many reportedly feel safer on a bike in Hackney Central than in Central London, Mare Street, which runs through the ward, is particularly traffic-heavy, with significant bus congestion.
The Council have done much to improve cycle routes and parking facilities over recent years, but the promise of cycle lanes has still not come to fruition.
One successful campaign has been the launch of a pioneering new free app, Cycle Hackney, with which users can record their journeys, track their routes, and report problems directly to the Council.
