TfGM signs up to support bike-share schemes at European conference

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed its support in principle for bike-share schemes at a major European transport conference.

Councillor Guy Harkin, Vice-Chairman of the TfGM Committee, joined 17 politicians from 12 cities in Europe and further afield to sign a statement of support for the schemes at the first VeloCittà European Bicycle Share Conference held in Rotterdam on Wednesday.

The conference gave the opportunity for 130 local authorities and other organisations to learn from the experience of the five VeloCittà project cities – London*, Krakow (Poland), Burgos (Spain), Padua (Italy) and Szeged (Hungary) – which have introduced bike-share or cycle hire schemes.

Delegates also heard from speakers involved in bike-share operations, promotion and research across the world, from Seattle in the USA to Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland.
TfGM is currently undertaking a cycle hire feasibility study for Greater Manchester, investigating the level of demand for a bike-share scheme in the region, interest from cycle hire providers and funding options.

Councillor Harkin said: “The VeloCittà Conference was a good opportunity to find out more from cities and organisations which have introduced bike-share schemes, to benefit from their knowledge and experience and to put TfGM’s support, in principle, for such schemes on the record.

“Cycle hire can be an accessible, affordable and sustainable part of a city’s or region’s public transport network. It can bring significant benefits to communities, improving health, reducing congestion and harmful emissions and supporting long-term, sustainable economic growth.

“In Greater Manchester we’re overseeing an unprecedented £80m investment in cycling infrastructure, facilities and activities by 2018, and research is now under way to explore if a bike-share scheme could form an important element of our vision to increase the proportion of journeys made by bike in the region from 2% to 10% by 2025.”

The VeloCittà project will collect further signatures for the statement of support for bike-sharing schemes before presenting it to the European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport, Violeta Bluc, and the European Parliament Transport Committee in January.