Encourage more people to cycle by providing better facilities

Most of us should get a little more exercise and we all know that the environment could use a little less pollution. If you own a business or sit on a council what can you do to help staff and visitors to become healthier and the environment to become that little bit cleaner?

Cycling may be part of the answer. Encouraging more people to cycle to work has been a target for the government for many years and statistics show that slowly more and more people are hopping on the saddle. However, one common barrier for many people who would like to try and cycle to work or school is the lack of adequate cycle storage.

Cycle storage usually comes in the form of cycle shelters or cycle compounds. A cycle shelter will allow a set number of bikes (usually 6 - 8) to be stored securely using a bike chain and protected from the weather. Typical shelters of this kind can cost as little as £800 - £900 with some more advanced shelters costing upwards of £2,000. However, buying a quality shelters means a higher quality material which is likely built to last and are can stay in situ for many years with just basic maintenance.

For a requirement to store more bikes a cycle compound is a great solution. Storing between 16 and 48 bikes they are ideal for schools, a university campus, city centres and larger businesses. As many schools, colleges and universities are attended by the younger generation this is where the government has typically focused its attention. Schools are encouraged to offer 'walking / cycling buses' which involve many children either walking or cycling to school together. Parents are far more likely to allow their child to cycle to school if they know a secure cycle compound is available for them to store their bike during lessons.

Students attending college and university are often unable to afford a car and find that buses or trains can be unreliable or indirect. These are just a few of the reasons that students in higher education are turning to bikes in their droves. Providing suitable cycle storage for these cyclists is vital, a stolen bike or wet saddle is a very unattractive prospect after a hard day of lectures.

Outside of the education system we're all being encouraged to cycle more. Cycle lanes and urban clearways are opening all the time and the government has recently announced that Bristol will be the first 'Cycling City' in the UK. They intend to double the amount of cyclists in the next three years in Bristol by creating better cycle lanes and cycling training courses.

Businesses throughout Bristol will need to make sure that they tap into this new market, in the most basic cases providing bike racks to allow customers and employees to leave their bike safely will ensure that cyclists feel welcomed. For larger businesses or retail areas a cycle shelter or compound will allow weather proof, safe cycle storage.