Mountain bikes just the ticket for wardens

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A tenth of the borough's 100-strong team now travel around the borough on mountain bikes, each covering about seven to 10 miles a day.

The attendants usually use mopeds or cars.

Lambeth hopes its move will prompt other London boroughs to follow suit.

The council introduced five bicycling parking wardens last year but this week the number was doubled to 10. While the proportion is still low, the aim is to get as many staff as possible on to bicycles.

Martin Paterson, manager for the Lambeth's parking service, said today: "Bikes are the perfect form of transport for the role.

"It keeps our parking attendants healthy, makes them more accessible to the public and, of course, helps reduce Lambeth's carbon emissions.

He added: "With all the work that Lambeth council has undertaken in improving routes for cyclists, cycling is also becoming a great deal safer. Bicycles are also a great way of beating traffic and reducing congestion."

The wardens undergo cycle confidence training as part of a programme of subsidised sessions that are available to anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough.

A council spokesman said: " Obviously it would be ideal if all of them could switch to bicycles but for operational reasons that's not possible. Lambeth is a big borough and some of the distances are just too large to cover on a bike.

"But we're making a good start and the response from the wardens and the public has been encouraging."

As well as its environmental benefits, the move appears to have smoothed relations between wardens and drivers.

The spokesman added: "Evidence so far suggests the public react more favourably to parking attendants who are on bikes, rather than in cars or mopeds. They are seen as more friendly, open and approachable."

Other "green" initiatives by the council include an electric car for staff, a pool bike scheme so employees can cycle between offices for meetings, more support for car sharing and the conversion of 70 per cent of the authority's vehicles to run on LPG fuel.

Lambeth has also boosted its recycling rates over the past year, exceeding government targets.