On your bikes!

£5m big push to create new cycle centres

GREATER Manchester will be handed almost £5 million to kick-start a revolution in cycling across the region.

The Greater Manchester Commuter Cycle Project is designed to increase the number of people cycling to work, and will provide almost 650 secure cycle parking spaces at a series of new cycle centres across Greater Manchester, and a further 450 spaces at a number of new Cycle Compounds.

Both the centres and compounds will have secure parking facilities and lockers but showers and toilets will also be available at the centres as it is envisaged people using the centres would have come from the outskirts of Greater Manchester and travelled further.

A specific “Bike Back to Work” scheme will also be launched allowing people the chance to borrow a bike so they can travel further to look for work or take up employment.

Transport Minister Normal Baker yesterday announced the scheme will be given £4.9 million of government funding.

Oldham town centre is likely to get a cycle compound, as will Bury, Stockport, Sale, Wigan and Rochdale.