Published on: Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Transport Minister Robert Goodwill is to officiallyopen Cambridge station’s new £2.5 million CyclePoint at a special ceremony onMonday 27 June.
Abellio Greater Anglia’s impressive new complexoffers2850 safe and secure spaces undercover, in a dedicated facility, covered byCCTV, open 24 hours a day, free of charge, and is the biggest and best facility of its type at a UK rail station. It hasmore than tripled the cycle parking capacity at the station and is expected to encourageeven greater cycle usage in a city with an established cycle culture, wherecycling to the station is already a popular option.
Spread over three floors, it also has a retail outletoperated by Rutland Cycling, providing maintenance, cycle hire, cycleaccessories and cycle sales, making the Cycle Point a true cycle hub andstrengthening further the sustainable transport options in a city where thereis already a high propensity to cycle.
The completion of the projectfollows a major programme of design, collaboration and construction by the keypartners, Abellio Greater Anglia, Network Rail and developers Brookgate, withtheir respective contractors. Funding support has also come from the Departmentfor Transport.
Indeveloping the final specification, extensive local consultation was carriedout with local stakeholders, including cycling groups, about the type offacilities to be provided, so there is a mix of parking options available witha mix of two-tier racks and Sheffieldstands. There are also spaces for “cargo cycles” and specialist cyclesused by those with disabilities, as well as areas of the ground floor reserved for ‘out of gauge’ cycles and for thosewho find use of the stairs difficult. Open seven-days-a-week, the CyclePoint isbrightly-lit and, in another helpful touch, has parking areas identified with adifferent colour scheme on each floor and individually numbered stands toenable customers to easily identify cycles on their return.
The project was a major commitment of AbellioGreater Anglia when it first began operating the franchise and is part of awider programme of cycle-rail improvements which has seen the company markedlyincrease cycle parking capacity at stations, complete a programme to ensure allof its stations offer some cycle parking, introduce the “Bike and Go” cyclehire scheme at a number of stations, open its first CyclePoint at Chelmsfordand launch a cycle forum as part of its proactive cycle strategy.
Thelaunch event will start at Brookgate’s offices, 2 Station Road, Cambridge, justacross the road from Cambridge station at 09.45.
Minister of State for Transport Robert Goodwillsaid: “The superb new CyclePoint herein Cambridge will undoubtedly help get people out of their cars and makecycling the natural choice for short journeys, improving health, air qualityand cutting congestion.
The number of peoplecycling to catch trains has increased by 40 per cent since 2010, so securecycle spaces at rail stations are critical. We have provided £29m to improvefacilities at hundreds of railway stations across England since 2012 and willcontinue investing in dedicated routes and better infrastructure to makecycling safer and easier for people across the country.”
Andrew Camp, Commercial Director, Abellio GreaterAnglia said: “We’re delighted that the Minister is joining us to officiallyopen the Cambridge CyclePoint. It is the biggest and best facility of its typein the UK and sets a new standard for cycle-rail integration.
“With safe, secure, undercover cycle parking, open24 hours a day, 7 days a week in a brightly lit, purpose-built facility,tripling the previous capacity, it makes cycling to and from the station a veryattractive and convenient option. It is already proving popular and is an impressiveflagship for our ongoing programme of improvements for cyclists across ournetwork. We hope it will also prove a valuable step forward in the wider railindustry strategy to increase cycle-rail usage.”
SvenTopel, Chief Executive, Brookgate, said: “We are delighted to welcome theTransport Minister Robert Goodwill to CB1 to officially open CyclePoint. As the gateway to a city renowned for itscycling, this location is the natural choice for a world-class cycle hub. Thisis a significant milestone in the delivery of CB1 which is bringing newcommercial, leisure and residential space, public realm improvements andtransport links, all centred around Cambridge Station.”
David Middlemiss, Managing Director of RutlandCycling, said: “As a local, independent business, we’re very proud to besupporting CyclePoint and the many cycle commuters who pass through the stationdaily. We believe passionately that for people to make cycling part of theirdaily lives, you’ve got to make it safe, convenient and easy. So, in ourRutland Cycling shop, right next door to CyclePoint, you can hire a bike, getyour own bike repaired 7 days a week, borrow a courtesy bike while your bike isserviced, and pick up cycle clothing, spares and accessories. We havecommuter-friendly opening hours during the week and we also offer bikemaintenance classes for all cyclists.”