Twenty new cycle hangars have been installed in Bath, but there has been opposition to many of the locations chosen, and they have been dubbed “metal monstrosities”.
A cycle hangar on Alfred Street in Bath
The latest tranche, providing 120 parking spaces at a cost of more than £200,000, is in addition to 21 hangars that were put in place across Bath & North East Somerset in 2023.
The hangars are in areas requested by the public and councillors.
The council says each hangar provides secure, weather-protected storage for up to six bicycles and occupies just half the space of a standard car parking bay. Spaces are available to rent for a fee of £60 per year.
Since the first hangars were introduced in 2023, the council says the occupancy rate has grown to 94% in April 2025. In Bath alone, the hangars had been at capacity for almost one year.
Councillor Lucy Hodge, cabinet member for sustainable transport delivery, said: “We’re delighted to be expanding our cycle hangar programme. Secure cycle parking is a key part of enabling more people to choose cycling for everyday journeys.”
She added: “These new hangars will make it easier for residents to store bikes safely and conveniently, especially where home storage is limited.”
The hangar on Cavendish Road
The cycle hangars are funded through the Government’s Active Travel Fund and delivered in partnership with the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA).
The new ones are at: Alfred Street, Beaufort East, Burlington Street, Camden Road, Cavendish Crescent, Charmouth Road, Chaucer Road, Crescent Lane, Cynthia Road, First Avenue, Jesse Hughes Court, Kensington Place, Queens Parade, Ringswell Gardens, Sion Hill Place, Spring Lane, St Saviour’s Road, Stanley Road West, Stuart Place and Upper Hedgemead Road.
Among the objections lodged for locations during the consultation period was one from the National Trust, which said that although it supports the modal shift towards cycling, it had “significant concerns” about a cycle hangar in front of the historic Assembly Rooms at Alfred Street.
The trust had concerns about the effects on the historic environment, character and setting of the Grade I listed building, and that it would create a “bottle neck” and restrict access including for wheelchair users.
It added that set against a wall, the hangar might be used as a platform for people to access the private gardens beyond.
The trust asked the council to explore other locations or solutions for cycle storage in the area.
But in response, a council officer said: “We have considered the impact on the area from a heritage and conservation standpoint by liaising with our colleagues in this department and chosen an appropriate colour for the hangars from the Bath pattern book.”
The officer said the location had been reviewed by the highways department and that it maintains approximately two metres of pavement width for pedestrians.
It noted concerns about the location potentially blocking the access corridor during the current refurbishment of the Assembly Rooms but said public access would be maintained.
Ten objections were raised about the hangar at Cavendish Road, with one resident saying: “To introduce these awful metal monstrosities a few yards from one of Bath’s celebrated crescents is a massive mistake aesthetically, even if it will be under a tree.”
They added that to see a cyclist in this area is very unusual: “We are so close to the city centre it’s easy to commute on foot.
“Who would want to cycle heading north towards the motorway? As for owning and storing a bicycle to head east or west, going where? The demographics here need to be recognised.
“Cavendish Crescent and Cavendish Place are affluent areas with mostly older owner-occupiers who either walk, take the bus or drive.”
Another said the hangar would be a hazard on a street where there have been several accidents: “Unlike cars which have windows, the hangers block sightlines.”
They continued: “Placing a hanger on an incline is surely a danger to the cyclists – a car breaking downhill might not stop in time if a cyclist suddenly emerges from the hangar into its path.”
In response a council officer said that the impact had been considered from a heritage and conservation standpoint.
Regarding the gradient of the road, the site had been determined to be a feasible site and the width of the road and pavement are suitable to safely accommodate a cycle hangar.
The officer added that the hangar does not obstruct visibility significantly more than a parked car would in the same location and takes up approximately one car parking space which is only a small proportion of the total car parking space on Cavendish Road.
Regarding the hangar at Beaufort East, the manager at the Bath Cat Clinic wrote to the council to say: “Parking has always been an issue for our clients, some of whom are elderly or disabled and cannot manage to carry their cat baskets very far.
“People already park here in the day and cycle in or use scooters, taking advantage of the free parking in our area, so the addition of a bike hangar may encourage more people to do so.
“Whilst I am in favour of cycling, this location has potential to impact negatively on our business as we have no dedicated parking.”
The council’s response was: “The cycle hangar will take up space of one car parking bay.
“Whilst we note the concern about losing a parking space it will provide six cycling spaces, and there is other car parking on the street and within walking distance of the cat clinic.”
The council did agree to change the positioning of a hangar at Oldfield Park after concerns were raised. The owners of 25 Stanley Road West objected to having a hangar 4.2 metres from their lounge window, saying it would have a “hugely detrimental impact” on their privacy.
Local councillors had also highlighted concerns about the impact as the pavement is on level ground with the house.
The council agreed to swap it to outside No. 23 next to an existing disabled parking bay and as a result a 10-metre parking bay can be retained.
