Greater Manchester secures funding for hundreds of new cycle parking spaces

Greater Manchester secures funding for hundreds of new cycle parking spaces

Rail stations across Greater Manchester are set to get around 250 new bike parking places in a bid to help residents cycle as part of a longer journey.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Northern Rail successfully bid for £636,000 from the Department for Transport (DfT), which is providing £15 million to improve cycle parking facilities at rail stations across the country.

TfGM will now work with Northern Rail and Network Rail to deliver the new facilities at nine rail stations across Greater Manchester.

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.

“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.

“These improvements will help many more people to access rail services and allow them to travel further afield.”

The introduction of additional high quality cycle parking facilities at stations across Greater Manchester will make it easier for people to ride to stations as part of a longer journey.

The move should also help cut pollution and ease congestion on Greater Manchester’s roads, as more people will be able to use a sustainable way of getting to and from rail stations instead of using a car for short journeys.

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.”

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.”

The £636,000 is the latest funding secured for cycling in Greater Manchester, with around £45 million already being invested in cycling infrastructure improvements as part of TfGM’s Cycle City programme.

Work has already begun on delivering a number of cycleways along key routes, improving parking facilities and introducing improvements in and around schools and colleges, which will all help to develop a cycling culture in Greater Manchester.