Manchester Labour

Manchester City Council is looking to develop the city’s first cycle centre -at Manchester Piccadilly.

Cycle centres offer secure parking for bikes and can also be linked to other cycling facilities such as an information point, cycle hire and bike maintenance.

A report, jointly funded by Manchester City Council and Salford City Council, into the proposed cycle centres has drawn up a number of potential locations, across Manchester and Salford, with Piccadilly Station Approach at the top of the list.

Manchester City Council is working closely with Network Rail, the landowner of Piccadilly Station Approach to build the first cycle centre there, which could create a secure space for around 150-160 bikes.

Funding has been allocated by the council for cycle centres to provide a safer environment for bike storage, in addition to the 'Sheffield' stands which are currently placed at numerous locations across the city.

Currently, bicycles are only used for 1% of journeys into the city centre and it is hoped that having a safe, protected shelter will encourage more people to bring their bike to work, as well as forge stronger links between public transport and cycling and reduce crime.

Northenden Councillor and lead member for the Environment, Richard Cowell said: "We want to create more of a cycling culture in Manchester and this is an excellent way of helping to encourage this. Cycle centres are a safe and secure environment for people to leave bikes and they can also offer a host of other facilities to cyclists.