Rail stations across Manchester are set to benefit from around 250 new bike parking spaces.
The news comes after Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Northern Rail successfully bid for £636,000 from the Department for Transport.
Gorton, Heaton Chapel, Hyde Central, Marple, Mills Hill and Trafford Park will be adding covered bike stands to their facilities.
Enclosed cycle hubs are also set to be introduced in Cheadle Hulme and Deansgate, while Piccadilly station’s Fairfield Street will see a new covered cycle rack upgrade.
Nick Fisher, TfGM’s Customer Operations Director, said: “We are very happy to secure funding that will help to improve facilities for cyclists that fit in with our long-term vision to make Greater Manchester a cycle city.”
Also as part of TfGM’s Cycle City programme, £45million is already being invested in improving cycling infrastructure around Manchester.
Using this funding, work has already started on building cycle-ways along popular routes, improving cycle parking facilities and introducing various measures for schools and colleges to promote cycling within Greater Manchester.
This new sustainable project encourages residents to cycle as part of a longer journey by using bikes instead of cars for the short journeys to and from rail stations, contributing towards a cut in pollution and minimising the traffic on roads.
Ian Joslin, area director for Network Rail, said: “This money will provide safe, secure cycle storage which will help to encourage more people to travel to and from stations by bike. We will now work with TfGM and Northern Rail to install these facilities as soon as possible.”
Mr Fisher added:“These improvements will help many more people to access rail services and allow them to travel further afield.
“Better cycle parking facilities will allow more people to use bikes to get to key destinations, as well as to cycle as part of a longer journey. It also helps people to build exercise into their daily routine.”
TfGM’s website quotes that cycling regularly ‘can roll back your fitness level to someone 10 years younger and reduce the risk of heart disease’ and further notes that being fit and healthy increases productivity and decreases stress.
Alex Hynes, Managing Director for Northern Rail commented: “Improved facilities for cyclists at stations around Greater Manchester open up even more journey opportunities for our customers.
“Cycling to and from your local station is a fantastically sustainable way to keep fit and active and helps us contribute towards easing the pressure on the region’s busy roads.”
