CONSTRUCTION work on Greater Manchester’s first brand new cycle hub, at Bury Interchange, is under way and will be complete in October, according to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Confidential thinks the word 'hub' is now getting a little tired but the intent behind the proposal is clearly a good one. It's a shame that Metrolink doesn't allow bikes on trams outside rush hours but this is a good infrastructure measure.

Cycle_Hub_Designs_B[1]The Bury Hub

The plan for a larger facility complete with showers, toilets, changing areas and lockers in the city centre is also to be welcomed.

The TfGM release follows. 

BURY Interchange's cycling hub will be the first of seven district hubs being developed across Greater Manchester to encourage people to cycle to work by providing secure, attractive cycle parking facilities.

They form a key part of Transport for Greater Manchester’s Commuter Cycle Project, which is being supported by the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund. To find out more about the project, visit www.tfgm.com/cycling.

Each of the district cycle hubs will house approximately 50 cycle parking spaces using Sheffield stands and will have lockers for storing cycle helmets and other cycling accessories.

The hubs will operate on a membership basis, as members will only be able to access each facility by swiping a smartcard, which will open an automatic door. CCTV coverage will provide additional security.

They will have a steel frame structure with both glazed panels and perforated steel panels, to allow natural ventilation. A polycarbonate roof will maximise the use of natural light inside and LED lighting will use daylight and motion sensors to conserve energy.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “A great deal of hard work has gone into developing these hubs, so I’m delighted that we’re now starting to see work start on the ground.

Bury HubBury Hub“These hubs are a great symbol of our ambition to make real changes to the way people think about cycling to work. We want to encourage people to make it the norm, rather than the exception, and providing these kinds of facilities is a great stride towards that.

“Allied to all the other initiatives and projects included in our overarching Local Sustainable Transport Fund plans, these really are exciting times for cycling in Greater Manchester.”

Details of how to become a member of the hub, and the official opening date, will be announced in coming weeks.

Cycle hubs in Ashton, Rochdale and Sale are currently planned, subject to discussions with third parties and securing all the necessary permissions and approvals.

Discussions over sites and delivery timescales for cycle hubs in Wigan, Oldham and Stockport are ongoing.

Larger-scale cycle hubs – complete with showers, toilets, changing areas and lockers – are also being developed for sites in Manchester city centre and MediaCityUK in Salford.

Cycle parking facilities will also be provided at new interchanges in Altrincham and Bolton.