Free cycle parking stands from TfL and TfGM (reportedly!)

If we want people to integrate cycling into their everyday activities there are some clear changes that we need to make.  Top priorities include creating safe, continuous, high quality cycle routes that go to destinations that people want to travel to; re-allocating roadspace to encourage people to walk and cycle more and reducing traffic speeds in residential areas   (20s Plenty).

In addition we also need to ensure that they have somewhere secure to park/store their bicycles where they live, work and in the public realm. If people do not have anywhere to safely store or lock their bicycles - why would they cycle.

Recently came across an interesting Transport for London (TfL) scheme that provides "free" cycle parking stands for businesses in London.  There are a number of conditions that the company needs to sign up to and these include: 

• Your organisation must have a minimum of five employees at the location.
• The number of stands available (up to 20) depends on the number of employees at the location, and is at our discretion
• Stands must be installed on privately owned land. The land owner must have given permission and any planning regulations must be followed
• Your organisation must sign up to the "Businesscycle" scheme
• Your organisation can choose from three designs: Sheffield, toast racks and vertical
• Your organisation has to pay for installation and ongoing maintenance
• Your organisation must agree to send us photographic evidence of installation within three months of delivery
• Your organisation must not have an undischarged planning obligation or Section 106 agreement for cycle parking relating to the site

These conditions seem reasonable and companies can (depending on number of employees) order up to 20 stands. 

It will be interesting to see how effective this scheme is at encouraging businesses to install more cycle parking.


So what is on offer in Greater Manchester?  It is reported that Transport for Greater Manchester is offering businesses grants for "cycling facilities" but unless you already knew this the TfGM website is a little opaque.

The Grants paragraph states that:

"As part of the LSTF Project Transport for Greater Manchester can provide grants and match funding towards the cost of providing cycling facilities at your workplace. Organisations receiving financial assistance will be required to commit to furthering cycling at their workplace by nominating a member of staff to act in a cycle liaison role as well as taking part in other relevant activities."

Which is all good.... but would be even better if some more specific details were available.  Just a thought !

Any companies wanting more details of the TfGM grant assistance should contact the cycling team at cycling@tfgm.com