A new scheme has launched across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester to help communities set up a sustainable bike library to help city-region residents take up cycling.
Organisations based or working across the city-region can bid to TfGM for a £5,000 grant to set up a community bike library. These libraries will allow people to try cycling for free, with the aim of encouraging people to take advantage of the new cycling routes that are being delivered Greater Manchester-wide as part of The Bee Network.
Transport Commissioner, Chris Boardman, said:
“Around 75% of households in Greater Manchester do not have access to a bike so this is a big barrier to enabling people to get out there and try travelling sustainably.
“Along with our GM cycle hire scheme which will launch later this year, community bike libraries will offer a genuine alternative to daily car trips. These local schemes will help us to create a network of free bikes that are either bought or donated and then maintained by volunteers, available for use by everyone.”
The bike library scheme coincides with the recent publication of the regional Clean Air Plan and announcement of a new GM cycle hire supplier. In Greater Manchester, 200 million trips of under one kilometre are made by car in the region every year – adding to congestion and poor air quality. This is the equivalent of a 15-minute walk or four minutes’ cycling.
Applications for grants can be made up to (5pm) on Friday 9 July by completing an application form and following the guidance provided in the invitation to apply. The form, documents and more information can be found on the TfGM Active Travel website.