York BID boosts city cycle parking provision by 10%

With pedal power forming a core part of York’s sustainable transportation plan, York Business Improvement District has given cyclists a boost, completing the installation of eight new cycle racks around the city, increasing bike parking provision across York by 10%.

The new cycle racks have been installed to both enhance existing provision, and provide new places for cyclists to park, from Blake Street and Esplanade to Deangate and Piccadilly. Each of the cycle racks features information and maps detailing cycle routes and parking around the city centre.

 “York is a fantastic city for cyclists, and we are keen to encourage bikes as an environmentally-friendly way of accessing the city centre. Clearly, providing well-maintained facilities is an important part of this, and having a safe place to lock your bike is crucial,” comments York BID’s operations manager, Carl Alsop.

“If one particular rack is already full, the maps provide a clear guide of how to find another nearby, which we hope will discourage people from locking their bikes to other street furniture, where it can cause obstructions to pavements.”

High demand

York’s Walk Cycle Forum works with many agencies with the aim of getting more people travelling around the city by foot or on a bike.

Chair Sheridan Piggott said, “This is very welcome because we have been calling for more cycle parking in the city for a long time. Thanks to the York BID for funding and working with City of York Council and the cycling community to enable these plans to finally come to fruition.

“The new initiative is a really good example of what can be achieved when people work together in a constructive way across the city.”

York BID’s Street Rangers also play a role in ensuring that as much bike parking is available as possible, by monitoring bikes that have been abandoned throughout all of the city’s cycle parking facilities.

“There is a high demand for dedicated cycle racks, so we regularly look out for bikes that have been left for long periods of time, and work with City of York Council to remove those that go unclaimed,” adds Carl.

Tags are attached to any bicycle that appears to have been abandoned, and if it not moved after a month, it is taken away for storage for a further month, before any unclaimed bikes are recycled and sold. 

The eight cycle racks, which together provide parking for 88 bikes, are located at:

• Blake Street
• High Petergate
• Esplanade
• Lord Mayor’s Walk
• Spark, Piccadilly
• Deangate
• St Morris Road
• George Street