People across the Bath area can now rent spaces to store their bicycles following the installation of seventeen more on-street storage hangars.
A cycle hangar in Great Stanhope Street | Photo © Bath Echo
The new cycle hangars have been proving popular, with 43 of the 102 spaces having been rented within three days of being launched.
Each hangar provides lockable, secure storage for six bikes. Residents who don’t have access to private cycle parking, such as a garage or shed, can rent a space for £42 a year, for an initial trial period.
The hangars form part of a £193,000 two-year trial to improve travel choices for residents.
Funded by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, awarded by The West of England Combined Authority (WECA), and Bath Clean Air Zone revenue reserve, the hangars are operated by Falco on behalf of Bath & North East Somerset Council.
Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel said: “Encouraging more people to opt for active forms of travel is key to reducing congestion and pollution, improving air quality and achieving our Net Zero goal.
“While the introduction of more dedicated cycle lanes is making cycling safer, residents told us they also need safe and secure storage for their bikes near their homes.
“We’ve responded and I hope, as a consequence, we’ll see more people using pedal power to make short journeys.
“We consulted widely before deciding where to place the hangars and they’ve been installed in areas where there was greatest demand and therefore greatest potential in an uplift in cycling.
“We also considered a range of other factors such as the relative level of deprivation, whether a cycle is a mobility aid for disabled people or for carrying children and the likelihood it could be stolen.
“There will, however, be another chance to request hangars later this year as the West of England Combined Authority will be consulting on sites for additional funded hangars.”
The new hangars have been installed at the following locations in/around Bath:
- Grove Street
- Railway Place
- Camden Road
- Portland Place
- Cleveland Place
- Henry Street
- Vane Street
- Lansdown Place West
- Park Place
- Upper Church Street
- South Parade
- Henrietta Mews
- Catharine Place
- Archway Street
- Grosvenor Place
- The Street, Radstock
- Carpenters Lane, Keynsham
A hangar proposed at Sydney Place has been placed on hold, however the council says it is “aware there is demand for a hangar in the area” and will consider an alternative location in the “near future”.
Hangars due to be installed at Pulteney Gardens and Walcot Street were unable to be installed on the planned date but will be rescheduled.
Residents can find out more about the new hangars or rent a space for their bike at www.rentals.falco.co.uk.
Some of the area’s bike hangar locations are already at full capacity. However, the West of England Combined Authority has secured funding from the government’s Active Travel Fund to install additional cycle hangars.
The survey on proposed sites is scheduled for later this year and people will be able to submit ideas for additional locations.
