A novel poster campaign at Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates stadium has just concluded a long-running campaign by Islington Cyclists Action Group to ensure the Gunners delivered on a previous promise for greater cycling facilities.
Next to a photo of some of Arsenal’s star players the poster listed scores of goals fans would have missed had they left the match 10 minutes early to drive home before traffic jams formed.
The poster also highlighted the fact there is secure cycle parking for over 100 bikes inside the Emirates stadium, next to the Arsenal Shop in DraytonPark. The parking is available to fans, free of charge, on match day.
The poster campaign represented the culmination of pressure from the Islington group, also backed by London Cycling Campaign, the aim being to ensure that the new Emirates stadium was cycle-friendly after its 2006 move from the old Highbury stadium. The posters were produced in partnership with advertising firm SportsRevolution who are now actively looking for other clubs and local authorities across the country who would be interested in similar poster campaigns.
Arsenal’s website also gives handy links for those cycling to the match, including Transport for London’s online journey planner (with cycle option) and the locations of cycle parking in the Borough of Islington, which recently invested £150,000 in new cycle stands throughout the borough. Finsbury Park Station near the Emirates stadium provides secure cycle parking for all cyclists.
The club was widely criticised by pro-cycling voices during the move for trying to avoid providing the match day cycle parking, whilst desiring to provide large-scale car parking. The provision eventually became a condition of the planning permission for the new stadium.