Kingston’s active commuting hub, part of the mayor’s Mini-Holland programme, is now open to the public.
A new station plaza, cycle hub and cycle/pedestrian bridge, part of Kingston’s Go Cycle scheme, has been designed to encourage more active travel and cut emissions through the south London borough.
Work at the station plaza includes narrowing of the roadway to expand the pavement for pedestrians while tidying up visual clutter outside the station. A re-paved zone in front of the station directs people towards the town centre.
The cycle storage hub is adjacent to the station and has a three-storey storage capacity for 398 bicycles. The upper levels are designed to provide secure and convenient cycle storage throughout the day.
Cargo bikes and cycle rental will also become available, at a later day, on the ground level to encourage cycling, while reducing vehicle congestion and pollution.
Furthermore, the new wider cycle and pedestrian bridge, over the A307, was fabricated offsite to reduce the impact on the local area. It has been fashioned to allow cyclists and pedestrians to safely cross the road with plenty of space in two directions, while providing better links to the riverside and adjoining cycle networks.
The scheme is nicknamed ‘Mini-Holland’, as according to the project, the Dutch have truly embraced cycling, with a population of 17 million, there are 22.5 million owned bicycles in Holland and over 30,000km of dedicated cycling infrastructure.
As part of the mayor’s Mini-Holland programme, Go Cycle Kingston said it aims to re-establish a strong green connection from the station forecourt to the riverfront. It added that the scheme is working to transform the derelict landscape adjacent to the rail tracks into a usable public amenity for people walking and cycling.
Will Norman, London’s walking & cycling commissioner, said: “The past year has seen a huge growth in walking and cycling across the capital, and as we look to the future it’s vital we avoid a car-led recovery from the pandemic.
“Kingston’s new ‘Mini-Holland’ scheme is providing improved cycling infrastructure and a wonderful new landscape, enabling more people to walk or cycle safely around the area, driving down traffic and getting active at the same time.”
