Boris Johnson says £4.5m centre in Redbridge should inspire more Londoners to cycle

London Mayor Boris Johnson has opened the Redbridge Cycling Centre in east London, and said that he hoped it would inspire more Londoners to start cycling.

Johnson was joined by commissioner for sport Kate Hoey and Sydney gold medallist Jason Quealy at the opening of the £4.5m centre, which was built by the London Development Agency for community and competition use.

The centre is made up of a 2km circuit and off-road trail, and replaces Eastway Cycle Circuit which is being turned into the VeloPark for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Johnson said: “The opening of the Redbridge Centre could not have happened at a better time, this being London’s ‘summer of cycling’.

“One of my key ambitions as mayor is to see London become a real cycling city by encouraging the estimated 1.1 million Londoners who own bikes but don’t use them regularly to get back in the saddle.

“Now there’s no excuse, because not only is this superb facility the place to come to practice your cycling skills, if you don’t own a bike they’ll lend you one.”