Cycling Cultures Research Project

Why Hackney?

Hackney was chosen because it has seen the highest rise in cycling of any of the London boroughs. Hackney is an inner city borough that is experiencing uneven processes of gentrification. It has high levels both of poverty and of cultural diversity. There are relatively low levels of employment within the borough - many employees travel into central London to work, a distance of around 4-5 miles.

Hackney has up till very recently lacked a tube station (except for Manor House at the extreme North of the borough), although bus services are relatively frequent. It has low rates of car ownership.

Hackney offers a diverse cycling experience - including canals, parks, and river routes, some very busy major roads, and traffic calmed local streets. The local cycling campaign encourages council officers to follow principles of integration (cycling with the traffic) and permeability (e.g. promoting cut-throughs for cyclists).