Bike boost for transport unit and local charities

By GreaterSport | 10 November 2021 | TAGS: TfGM, active travel, Case studies

Through the first part of the pandemic TfGM loaned or gave away nearly 500 bikes to NHS workers, working with local suppliers, Halfords and GreaterSport. Many of these bikes were returned and have now been re-distributed to local not-for-profit organisations dedicated to supporting local communities across Greater Manchester. Greater Manchester Police’s Transport Unit, Sale Sharks Community Trust, One Manchester Housing Association, Wigan Borough Armed Forces Community HQ, Barnardo’s BeU Project and Greater Manchester Bridges Outcomes Partnerships will receive their share of 70 bikes to support community members throughout the region. 

The Transport Unit, dedicated to keeping public transport users, cyclists and pedestrians safe, will use their bikes to enable front line officers to increase their coverage across transport networks and have a greater presence in the local communities they serve.  

The five not-for-profit organisations will use their bikes to deliver a range of projects that will make it easier for community members to travel to work, connect with each other and embrace a more active lifestyle.  

Increased access to bikes through projects like these closely aligns to the delivery of The Bee Network, the UK’s largest cycling and walking network, with a new Greater Manchester cycle hire scheme due to be launched in November 2021.  

Greater Manchester’s Transport Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said, “I am delighted that the repurposed bikes are going to make such a positive impact to organisations across the city-region.  

“We have ambitious plans to quadruple cycling levels in Greater Manchester and increased access to bikes, including more visibility of organisations like Greater Manchester Police making use of them in their daily work is key.  

“It’s fantastic that we’ve given these bikes a new lease of life. Given the many health and wellbeing benefits of cycling and walking, I know that the bikes will be a hit with the people that can now use them to do their important work.”