Cycling storage boost for social housing residents

Cycling storage boost for social housing residents

Residents in social housing could find it easier to own and store a bike as part of a new initiative aimed at increasing cycling.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is offering grants of up £10,000 to Housing Associations registered as social landlords to cover 100% of the cost of any new or improved secure cycle parking they provide.

The grant can be used to install cycle stands, shelters or wall mounted storage, as well as to upgrade existing cycling facilities including improving lighting, CCTV coverage or security.

Greater Manchester has around 250,000 households living in social housing, and TfGM is currently contacting registered social landlords directly to raise awareness of how their tenants could benefit.

The initiative is part of TfGM’s Better By Cycle Programme, which aims to increase cycling to 10% of all journeys by 2025. Around £45million is being invested in improvements to cycle routes and facilities across Greater Manchester, alongside a wide-ranging programme of information, education and training.

The closing date for applications is Friday 3 October 2014 with grants being issued on a first come first served basis. For more information about how to apply for a grant, please email cycling@tfgm.com 

The cycle storage grants are being funded through the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which aims to which aims to tackle congestion, reduce carbon emissions and help people back into work.

A network of cycle hubs is also being provided at key locations and district centres across Greater Manchester to make secure cycle parking more widely available.