Wheelie exciting news for the Cotswolds!
In collaboration with Life Cycle, Cotswold District Council have installed 51 new community bike stands in the Cotswolds including in Lechlade, Fairford and South Cerney.
After the success of the 20 bike stands installed in the Cotswold Water Park in 2022, encouraging locals and visitors to explore by bike, we have now installed more in and around the Water Park area to encourage people to travel by bike to places such as GP surgeries, shops, village halls, football clubs, and playing fields.
The bike stands are part of the Take a Stand scheme and will help local cyclists by ensuring there are places for them to store their bikes when they arrive at their destination.
The Take a Stand scheme offers many benefits to both local businesses and the public. By providing secure bike stands, it showcases cycling as an easy and sustainable way to get around. It also removes financial barriers for small organisations. This partnership encourages businesses to support cycling and contributes to a greener, healthier Cotswolds.
Furthermore, it makes the Cotswolds a more bike-friendly area, inspiring residents and visitors to choose bikes for their everyday travel and reduce their carbon footprint at the same time.
Cllr Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, said, “This is a really great project to be involved in, and I'm pleased that the Council have been able to put this money into something that will make a difference to a lot of people.
“Knowing that there is somewhere you can leave your bike when travelling will hopefully make it easier for people to use their bicycles. Cycling is great for health, helps us reduce our impact on the environment and often means we can avoid having to find a parking space!”
Bernadette Thomson, Life Cycle's Take a Stand Coordinator, said, “We have a really positive and proactive working relationship with Cotswold District Council, who are clearly committed to increasing the security for cyclists and, therefore, encouraging more cycling in the region, which fits with their sustainable transport plans.”
Fairford Town FC is one location where the bike stands have been installed.
Jody Bevan, Director of Football at Fairford Town FC, said, "Everybody at Fairford Town FC was delighted to get on board with the scheme. We regularly get cyclists coming to the football club, so the opportunity to provide them with a facility to secure their bikes was a huge attraction to us. The subsequent interaction with Life Cycle has been incredibly easy and straightforward, and the installation of the bike racks was completed with the minimum of disruption."
Life Cycle’s Take a Stand scheme has a proven track record, having successfully delivered secure cycle parking solutions in multiple areas, including Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, Bournemouth, Derby, Herefordshire, Swindon, and Wiltshire.
The bike stands are an invitation to the local community to take a stand for cycling, for the environment, and for a brighter, healthier future.
Contact Information
Cotswold District Council Communications Team
Notes to editors
Further information:
All installations have been organised, supplied, and professionally installed by Life Cycle, and funded by the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) aimed at encouraging people to be more physically active, tackle health inequalities by removing barriers to active and sustainable travel.
About Life Cycle:
Life Cycle is a Bristol-based charity that works with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds at every stage of their cycling journey: From learning to ride, to building a career in the cycle industry.
They know that with the right support, anyone can benefit from bikes. They help thousands of people each year by providing:
- Bikes that are safe, smooth and fun to ride.
- Cycle training for all ages and abilities.
- Cycling activities for people with additional needs.
- Industry-accredited training for the public - and people in prison.