BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Robert Goodwill is to officially open Cambridge station’s new £2.5 million CyclePoint at a ceremony on Monday 27 June.
Abellio Greater Anglia’s new complex offers 2850 safe and secure spaces undercover, in a dedicated facility, covered by CCTV, open 24 hours a day, free of charge, and is the biggest and best facility of its type at a UK rail station.
It has more than tripled the cycle parking capacity at the station and is expected to encourage even greater cycle usage in a city with an established cycle culture, where cycling to the station is already a popular option.
Spread over three floors, it also has a retail outlet operated by Rutland Cycling, providing maintenance, cycle hire, cycle accessories and cycle sales, making the Cycle Point a true cycle hub and strengthening further the sustainable transport options in a city where there is already a high propensity to cycle.
David Middlemiss, Managing Director of Rutland Cycling, said: “As a local, independent business, we’re very proud to be supporting CyclePoint and the many cycle commuters who pass through the station daily. We believe passionately that for people to make cycling part of their daily lives, you’ve got to make it safe, convenient and easy.
"So, in our Rutland Cycling shop, right next door to CyclePoint, you can hire a bike, get your own bike repaired 7 days a week, borrow a courtesy bike while your bike is serviced, and pick up cycle clothing, spares and accessories. We have commuter-friendly opening hours during the week and we also offer bike maintenance classes for all cyclists.”
The completion of the project follows a major programme of design, collaboration and construction by the key partners, Abellio Greater Anglia, Network Rail and developers Brookgate, with their respective contractors. Funding support has also come from the Department for Transport.
In developing the final specification, extensive local consultation was carried out with local stakeholders, including cycling groups, about the type of facilities to be provided, so there is a mix of parking options available with a mix of two-tier racks and Sheffield stands. There are also spaces for “cargo cycles” and specialist cycles used by those with disabilities, as well as areas of the ground floor reserved for ‘out of gauge’ cycles and for those who find use of the stairs difficult.
The project was a major commitment of Abellio Greater Anglia when it first began operating the franchise and is part of a wider programme of cycle-rail improvements which has seen the company markedly increase cycle parking capacity at stations, complete a programme to ensure all of its stations offer some cycle parking, introduce the “Bike and Go” cycle hire scheme at a number of stations, open its first CyclePoint at Chelmsford and launch a cycle forum as part of its proactive cycle strategy.
The launch event will start at Brookgate’s offices, 2 Station Road, Cambridge, just across the road from Cambridge station at 09.45.
