The council and the cycling charity organisation aim to provide free cycle stands to small organisations within Swindon.
A cyclist making use of Life Cycle UK's cycle stands
This is all in aid of helping small businesses and community organisations to promote and enable cycling as a safe and eco-friendly travel option.
The council has been included in the second tranche of the Government’s ‘Active Travel Fund’. The emergency funding is to be used to help people travel safely during the pandemic and to “level up for the future”.
The funding's purpose is to help improve public transport capacity, travel infrastructure, and put in place measures to encourage walking and cycling.
And of this funding, Life Cycle UK has received a sum to provide free Sheffield stands to small organisations, enabling those who may be struggling financially to attract more people on bikes to their doorstep.
Bernadette, Life Cycle UK’s Take a Stand Coordinator, said: “We are delighted to be able to deliver high quality, secure cycle parking to small organisations in Swindon. With our help, small organisations can step up to become more accessible and welcoming to people who travel by bike – as well as boosting their ‘green credentials’. We welcome applications from all eligible organisations.”
According to the Government, public cycling has risen by around 200% since the first lockdown, with more people opting to avoid the risks of public transport. The Government found over half of public transport users in the UK say they will continue to avoid buses and trains after the pandemic, in favour of cycling or walking.
Life Cycle’s Take a Stand scheme will aim to provide cycle parking to help people on bikes safely access local jobs and services more safely, during the pandemic and beyond.
Each organisation can claim up to four cycle stands (parking for eight bikes) completely free of charge. All they have to do is install them. The Life Cycle UK team says its ‘Sheffield stands’ are strong and sturdy, reducing bike theft and giving peace of mind to cyclists and business-owners alike.
Take a Stand customer Chris, Centre Manager of Grange Leisure & Community Centre of Stratton, said: "The Take a Stand scheme was so helpful for us as the stands were completely free! A great bonus in these difficult times.
"We are so pleased to be able to encourage people to cycle to the Leisure Centre, with the added health benefits that brings, and as we are located next to a school we know that some of the children are able to make use of our secure cycle parking too so this scheme is really helping the local community!"
More information on Life Cycle UK can be found at https://www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/
(Image credit - Life Cycle UK)
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