Learning and Leisure Action Plan

Action plan for sustainable transport for Hackney's Learning and Leisure Directorate - proposed to Director Kevin Crompton November 1998

(1) Publish a clear statement of support for a global commitment to sustainable transport, for example: "Everything the L&L directorate does should support the Council's aim of increasing the use of sustainable transport and reducing the car dependence of Hackney people and London Borough of Hackney staff".

(2) Co-ordinate with Hackney-wide motor traffic reduction targets (-30% by 2005). Learning and Leisure should agree targets to reduce access by private car year on year while maintaining or increasing usage of facilities themselves. As well as charging for car parking, other car parking space should be converted into something useful (see for example, enclosed transparent two-a-side football courts in Spitalfields market, use space for waste recycling facilities)

(3) Ensure good information on all aspects of sustainable access e.g. what routes to take, whether there is secure cycle parking, buggy storage etc., and about public transport. All this information should be available at all the leisure sites themselves. (see also 8) Secure cycle parking should be convenient (right by the front door), and have easy, direct vehicular cycling access. (See one-way system in front of the Britannia Leisure Centre for example of poor practice)

(4) Review operational policies to ensure that they are not forcing users to make additional trips. For example, current policy at the Britannia Leisure Centre means that users have to make two trips, one to book, and one to use because you can't book one week in advance. This is apparently justified on the grounds that it favours 'local' people, but it seems an obtuse way of achieving this end, compared with say, issuing a numbered postcoded user card and telephone line.

(5) Review internal transport strategy: provide incentives for staff to use sustainable modes of transport e.g. season ticket loans/bike loans and review operation of internal post and delivery systems to consider conversion to greener modes (e.g. HPV (human powered vehicle) rated at 250kg).

(6) Learning and Leisure employ more than 200 people who are instructors in some sort of physical skill. Those people could be trained as cycle instructors in two weekends, and could then be booked by schools, groups, businesses, the police, health centres for cycle training.

(7) Include 'Travel Training' in all learning programmes. (Travel Training teaches people how to make the best choices of transport and how to find information on routes, links and fares).

(8) Access by foot and bike should be co-ordinated with the surrounding transport network. Feeder routes from the London Cycle Network should be assessed and improved where appropriate. Access from major trip origins, e.g. nearby housing estates, should be reviewed to ensure they are pleasant and safe for pedestrians and cyclists. Publish leaflets at leisure centres showing the exercise benefits of timed walks to the centre from different distances.

(9) Make links with, and learn from, Ealing Council's SALSA project (Sustainable Access to Leisure Sites and Amenities). Project initiator: Paul Hyman, Ealing's head of leisure strategy.

(10) Lead by personal example. If you are currently car-dependent, but would like a cycle buddy to help you get started we would be happy to oblige!