The Government is investing £1.6m to improve facilities at stations across the country, in a bid to encourage more people to commute by bike.
The investment is intended to ‘help people make cycling a seamless part of their daily journey’.
The Cycle Rail Programme – which has already been backed by almost £36 million from the Department for Transport – has been set up to enable cyclists to make their journeys to work as ‘joined up and sustainable as possible’.
The programme has improved access to stations for cyclists through a number of initiatives including cycle hire schemes, new footpaths and safe and secure cycle parking.
It has also tripled the number of cycle parking spaces at more than 500 stations across the country, bringing the total to more than 80,000.
The DfT says the additional funding will extend the benefits, enabling more people to cycle directly to their station and lock up their bike securely.
Jesse Norman, the minister responsible for cycling and walking, said: “Improving cycling access to railway stations is good for cyclists and good for rail users, whether they’re commuters or tourists — and it has terrific knock-on benefits, by improving air quality, reducing obesity and increasing economic productivity.
“That’s the purpose of the government’s Cycle Rail Programme. Some £36m has been invested to date, and I’m delighted we can now raise this by another £1.6m.”
Xavier Brice, CEO of Sustrans, said: “Everyone should be able to easily access their railway station by bicycle or on foot. This helps people make a healthy start to their journey while reducing local road congestion and car emissions.
“The increased funding is very much welcome as it will help integrate more train journeys with cycling by improving cycle parking and contributing to safe routes for all to use.”
The £1.6m in funding will top up the £4.08m that has already been made available for the Cycle Rail Programme in the current financial year.
The funding is available to train operating companies and the DfT will be writing to them in the near future to outline the application process.
Good to see this is happening but I share the concern that this is jam spread very thinly. The even bigger issue is local councils that don’t invest in the safe cycle routes to the stations. Barnet Council in London is a sad example of one which doesn’t do anything to help people get safely to Hendon or Mill Hill Broadway stations. Please can you get them to do something?
Adam Edwards, Hatfield
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So, the government is spending 2.7p (£1.6m divided by 60m) per head on cycle facilities at stations!
Rod King, Warrington
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