Secure bicycle storage offered in city centre
COUNCIL SITE REOPENS – AND WILL BE FREE FOR ALL USERS
SECURE bike storage is again available in the city centre – and is free for all users.
The city council said staff would be on hand at the reopened Bike Park, in Town Hall Square, seven days a week.
However, secure lockers, showers and toilets will not be available.
To avoid cash handling and due to the limited service, the usual charges of up to £1 for a day’s parking are being waived.
Opening hours will be 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm on Saturdays and from 10pm to 4pm on Sundays.
To support social distancing, handover of bikes will take place at a gazebo outside the building, with a queuing system.
Customers will be given a disposable ticket, which they will need to keep until they collect their bike.
Staff will also be following the Bike Shop Confederation’s procedures on handling of bicycles, which include changing gloves before every transaction and wiping down bikes.
Members of the public will not be allowed into the Bike Park building, to avoid the narrow ramp at the entrance, and staff will be observing social distancing.
Spaces are available for up to 200 bikes, but all must be collected by the end of the day.
Deputy mayor Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “We’ve seen a surge in people cycling in their neighbourhoods during the coronavirus pandemic, and we’re keen to build on this momentum.
“That’s why we’ve developed a Covid-19 transport recovery plan that prioritises cycling, walking and people-friendly streets to allow people to move around our city easily and safely.”
The plan includes a commitment to create a mile every week of new cycling and walking routes, both by using pop-up temporary routes or bringing forward the completion date for longer-term, permanent infrastructure projects from the Connecting Leicester work.
Cllr Clarke said: “As part of this long-term commitment to cycling and walking, we wanted to reopen the Bike Park as soon as possible so that visitors to the city centre know there is somewhere secure to leave their bike.
“As well as being safe and reliable, this service is now free.
“It means even more people can benefit from the advantages of cycling – which include healthier air, a heathier city and healthier citizens.”
Cyclists and walkers can also earn rewards by downloading the free BetterPoints app.
People who track walks or rides on the app can earn points which can be redeemed for high street vouchers or donated to charity.
This month, there are double points for cycling in Leicester and Leicestershire – and a chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher.