The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead sought design feedback from local cycling organisations to ensure the new enclosed cycle park meets their needs and address security concerns about parking their bikes at the leisure centre.
Funded by Active Travel England via central government, it also benefits from being located on one of the main cycling routes into Windsor Town Centre and near to The National Cycle Network Route 4.
In addition to being completely enclosed, with a security entry system, it offers 36 spaces as two tier racks, Sheffield stands, cargo stands as well as a pump and repair stand. People can also safely store their helmets and belongings in lockers.
Spaces can be booked on arrival, or in advance, through an app by cycle security firm Spokesafe. Entry to the secure parking area is protected by a keypad with access only for registered, ID-verified users making the booking. Parking costs just £1 per day, with discounts for weekly and monthly bookings. The unit also includes CCTV with 24/7 monitoring and customer support from Spokesafe.
Councillor Geoff Hill, cabinet member for highways and traffic, said: “If you already cycle or want to give it a go, this new secure cycling park not only gives you peace of mind that your bike will be safe but also has facilities for bike maintenance. Thanks to the valuable input from local cycling groups such as the Windsor Cycle Hub, and Windsor Ascot Maidenhead Active Travel, we’ve been able to create a design that reflects what’s needed.
“This new cycle park also supports two of the five key aims in our Council Plan: creating a cleaner, greener, safer and more prosperous borough as well as empowering our residents to live healthy and independent lives in supportive communities.”
To use the cycle park, the Spokesafe app must first be downloaded onto a smart phone or tablet and then an account set up.