Local businesses can now apply to receive free secure bike storage as part of a campaign to encourage cycling to work.
Milton Keynes Council is working in partnership with sustainable transport firm PWLC Projects, and bike park suppliers Turvec, to offer free bicycle parking stands to businesses in the borough.
£45,000 from the local authority's budget will go towards the project to help businesses reduce emissions.
Councillor Jenny Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Sustainability at Milton Keynes Council, said: “We want all businesses who can, to provide safe cycle parking for both their staff and visitors. If we really want to change people’s behaviour and get them to cycle to work, then we need to work with businesses to make it easy and safe to do so.
“Businesses are being encouraged to get in touch with our partners, PWLC, to carry out a staff travel survey, site audit and application form for the free bicycle stands.”
Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at the cycling charity, Cycling UK, has welcomed the initiative: “We’ve seen a huge resurgence in the number of people cycling during the pandemic as people, in part because they’re looking to avoid public transport as they commute to work.
“That’s why it’s really important we support people to feel able to cycle, whether that’s by providing more cycle parking or installing more cycle lanes so they feel safer travelling by bike.
“Not only is cycling great for our health and mental well-being, enabling more people to cycle is a crucial step towards improving air quality and reducing road traffic congestion in our towns and cities.”
For more information on the cycle parking funding, or to apply, click here.
