Firms told to create better facilities to allow workers to cycle to work

Transport for London has issued construction firms with guidance on how their workers can safely use the capital’s public network amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In a sector-specific briefing note, TfL detailed steps firms should take to help protect their staff.

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TfL has said firms should stagger shifts so workers avoid travelling at peak times

It said: "As employers, you can help by instructing all those who can work from home, including administrative and head office staff, to continue to do so.

"Enhance the facilities you offer, such as lockers, showers and cycle storage, to enable your workforce to walk and cycle all or part of their journey to site."

The notice highlighted efforts at Dragados' Bank Station capacity upgrade project and Morgan Sindall and VolkerFitzpatrick's Barking Riverside upgrade where additional bike racks have been installed.

The Dragados project and the Ferrovial/Laing O’Rourke JV on the Northern Line extension project have improved changing facilities and changed the shift start and end times of workers who have to use public transport, so they can travel avoiding the busiest times.

Other recommendations include changing operating hours and staggering shifts, working with local planning authorities to change site operating hours further if necessary and working with neighbouring major sites to stagger operating times or workers’ shift times.

It also said firms should look to allocate those shifts starting and finishing around peak travel times to workers who can walk or cycle to and from work and consolidating and retiming the transportation of materials and waste to and from sites to avoid the busiest times of day on the road.

TfL also provided extra guidance for firms working in Vauxhall Nine Elms, Westminster, the City, Canary Wharf and Stratford because of the high levels of construction activity in those areas.

It provided cycle and walking route information for these areas to try and alleviate the pressure on stations in these zones.