Queensbridge residents are leading the way among Londoners cycling to work, new research has revealed.
Data Visualisation: Sophie Murray-Morris
The figures, provided by London Datastore, show that 19.1 per cent of Queensbridge residents cycle to work, the highest throughout inner London.
Queensbridge also recorded the highest percentage increase in people commuting by bike. The ward has seen an 11.3 per cent rise since 2001, followed by Dalston, Hackney Central, Clissold, Hackney Downs and Stoke Newington, which all record an increase of more than 10 per cent.
Hackney continues to dominate as the country’s cycling capital. 15.4 per cent of all commuters travel to work by bicycle, the highest of any local authority in England or Wales.
However, while Hackney Council has worked in conjunction with local groups to make cycling safer, there are dangers that continue to put people off.
Mandy Black, a Dalston retiree, said: “I cycle a lot around Hackney to go to the shops but I don’t think I would ever cycle to central London, as it’s much more dangerous and I don’t think drivers really look at cyclists.”
However, the latest data suggests that efforts to equip Hackney’s roads for cyclists with more signs, cycle counters and quick-fix workshops are having an effect.
Richard Jones, an IT specialist from London Fields, said: “Hackney is a great place to cycle. There are much better facilities for bikes than there used to be, so my journey to and from work is easier and more enjoyable.”
