Bike hangars in Lewisham are getting a cash injection of £100,000 – but to get one you should give your neighbours a nudge. 

It emerged at a sustainable development committee on Wednesday night (December 4) that many streets are not being considered because fewer than four residents have asked for one.  

The cycling report presented at the committee stated: “Officers delivered 77 bike hangars in the 2018-19 financial year, with coverage in 14 out of the 17 wards in the borough.  

“£100k has been set aside from the cycling improvements LIP budget for the 2019-20 financial year which will be delivered in two phases in October 2019 and February 2020.  

“LB Lewisham successfully bid for £224k of cycle parking funding from TfL’s dedicated Cycle parking fund – this includes 65 bike hangars, 349 Sheffield stands and 2 double tier units covering stations, town centres as well as schools, the Healthy Neighbourhoods zone and Deptford Parks Liveable Neigbhourhood zone.  

“By the end of the 2019/20 financial year it is projected LB Lewisham will have a total of 182 bike hangars across the borough in all wards, as well as good cycle parking provision at train stations.” 

Josh Learner, cycling and walking manager at Lewisham Council, told the committee installing the hangars is done on a demand basis and that most were in the north of the borough.  

Cllr Patrick Codd, who has spoken to residents who applied unsuccessfully, asked about unmet demand.  

Mr Learner said: “Usually it takes a minimum of four or five requests for a street to make my shortlist so there are a lot of streets that have made two or three requests and they are just below that threshold. 

“If you want one you should go knock on a few doors and all of a sudden you’ve got five requests and a bike hangar in a few months.” 

Cllr Codd also asked about encouraging employers to install bike hangars and setting them up around night-time activities.  

He said: “My understanding is that most people don’t cycle because they’ve got nowhere to store their bike easily or when they get to work.  

“I would like to see us do more to make sure we’re getting into roads that perhaps don’t have front gardens and don’t have enough space. 

“Are we doing anything to encourage businesses and employers to have storage at their premises or to improve their cycle storage? 

“What are we doing to encourage cycling and walking activity in the evening perhaps near cinemas and night time activities.” 

Mr Learner said the scheme is “very one-dimensional” and would like it to become more sophisticated.  

He suggested adding questions to the form about garden space and whether people live in a high rise, adding that the council is in talks with TfL about installing hangars in Lewisham estates.