Published on: Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Transport Minister Robert Goodwill is to officially open Cambridge station’s new £2.5 million CyclePoint at a special ceremony on Monday 27 June.
Abellio Greater Anglia’s impressive new complex offers 2850 safe and secure spaces undercover, in a dedicated facility, covered by CCTV, open 24 hours a day, free of charge, and is the biggest and best facility of its type at a UK rail station. It has more than tripled the cycle parking capacity at the station and is expected to encourage even greater cycle usage in a city with an established cycle culture, where cycling to the station is already a popular option.
Spread over three floors, it also has a retail outlet operated by Rutland Cycling, providing maintenance, cycle hire, cycle accessories and cycle sales, making the Cycle Point a true cycle hub and strengthening further the sustainable transport options in a city where there is already a high propensity to cycle.
The completion of the project follows a major programme of design, collaboration and construction by the key partners, Abellio Greater Anglia, Network Rail and developers Brookgate, with their respective contractors. Funding support has also come from the Department for Transport.
In developing the final specification, extensive local consultation was carried out with local stakeholders, including cycling groups, about the type of facilities to be provided, so there is a mix of parking options available with a mix of two-tier racks and Sheffield stands. There are also spaces for “cargo cycles” and specialist cycles used by those with disabilities, as well as areas of the ground floor reserved for ‘out of gauge’ cycles and for those who find use of the stairs difficult. Open seven-days-a-week, the CyclePoint is brightly-lit and, in another helpful touch, has parking areas identified with a different colour scheme on each floor and individually numbered stands to enable customers to easily identify cycles on their return.
The project was a major commitment of Abellio Greater Anglia when it first began operating the franchise and is part of a wider programme of cycle-rail improvements which has seen the company markedly increase cycle parking capacity at stations, complete a programme to ensure all of its stations offer some cycle parking, introduce the “Bike and Go” cycle hire scheme at a number of stations, open its first CyclePoint at Chelmsford and launch a cycle forum as part of its proactive cycle strategy.
The launch event will start at Brookgate’s offices, 2 Station Road, Cambridge, just across the road from Cambridge station at 09.45.
Minister of State for Transport Robert Goodwill said: “The superb new CyclePoint here in Cambridge will undoubtedly help get people out of their cars and make cycling the natural choice for short journeys, improving health, air quality and cutting congestion.
The number of people cycling to catch trains has increased by 40 per cent since 2010, so secure cycle spaces at rail stations are critical. We have provided £29m to improve facilities at hundreds of railway stations across England since 2012 and will continue investing in dedicated routes and better infrastructure to make cycling safer and easier for people across the country.”
Andrew Camp, Commercial Director, Abellio Greater Anglia said: “We’re delighted that the Minister is joining us to officially open the Cambridge CyclePoint. It is the biggest and best facility of its type in the UK and sets a new standard for cycle-rail integration.
“With safe, secure, undercover cycle parking, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in a brightly lit, purpose-built facility, tripling the previous capacity, it makes cycling to and from the station a very attractive and convenient option. It is already proving popular and is an impressive flagship for our ongoing programme of improvements for cyclists across our network. We hope it will also prove a valuable step forward in the wider rail industry strategy to increase cycle-rail usage.”
Sven Topel, Chief Executive, Brookgate, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Transport Minister Robert Goodwill to CB1 to officially open CyclePoint. As the gateway to a city renowned for its cycling, this location is the natural choice for a world-class cycle hub. This is a significant milestone in the delivery of CB1 which is bringing new commercial, leisure and residential space, public realm improvements and transport links, all centred around Cambridge Station.”
David Middlemiss, Managing Director of Rutland Cycling, said: “As a local, independent business, we’re very proud to be supporting CyclePoint and the many cycle commuters who pass through the station daily. We believe passionately that for people to make cycling part of their daily lives, you’ve got to make it safe, convenient and easy. So, in our Rutland Cycling shop, right next door to CyclePoint, you can hire a bike, get your own bike repaired 7 days a week, borrow a courtesy bike while your bike is serviced, and pick up cycle clothing, spares and accessories. We have commuter-friendly opening hours during the week and we also offer bike maintenance classes for all cyclists.”