09 Jun 2009
Ten per cent of construction workers working on the Olympic Park are walking or cycling to work, as the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) continues to work towards getting five per cent of spectators walking or cycling to events for London 2012.
To encourage construction workers to continue to cycle to the Olympic Park, early this morning ‘Dr Bike’ provided cyclists with a free bike check and maintenance advice. Police officers from the Olympic Site Support Unit also provided advice to cyclists including effective bike security measures to prevent theft, how to register their bikes’ details online and what to do if bikes are stolen.
Download photos from today’s events ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said:
'Our aim is to get 100 per cent of spectators to the Games using public transport, walking or cycling to events in 2012. It’s great that 10 per cent of construction workers are already walking and cycling to the Olympic Park, with thousands more taking public transport to and from the site.
'Today’s initiative and specialist knowledge will not only encourage workers that may not use their bikes to try it today and hopefully set a future trend, but through professionals, ensure their bikes are equipped for the roads.'
The ODA has and continues to improve safety for cyclists in and around the Olympic Park, and has provided:
- More than 400 cycle parking places for workers;
- Cycle and walking maps for the workforce, showing facilities and routes;
- Advanced stop lines at junctions for north and south plaza for cyclists;
- New cycle lanes in close proximity to the Olympic Park; and
- Cycle route signing.
Today’s event was part of the London 2012’s Sustainability Week.
Notes to editors:
1. In October 2008 the ODA also launched a campaign to help improve safety for cyclists in London by focusing on lorries travelling to and from the Olympic Park in Stratford. By putting a Fresnel lens on the passenger window, lorry drivers can see cyclists and vehicles on the passenger side of the lorry, where before they would have had a 'blind spot'. Working with VOSA and Police to improve standards of driving and vehicle safety, the ODA distributed 1,600 Fresnel lenses in the first stage of this campaign.
2. There are over 4,500 workers currently on site.
3. Dr Bike was provided by Bikeworks, a non-profit organisation based in Tower Hamlets.
– Ends –
The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.
Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our
blog 
