Old bikes given to Greater Manchester police ahead of new cycle hire scheme

Recycled bikes have been handed over to Greater Manchester police and community groups, ahead of a new cycle hire scheme set for the autumn,

The bikes have been previously used by local businesses and the NHS but have been reconditioned and donated to organisations by Greater Manchester (TfGM) and GreaterSport.

Greater Manchester Police’s Transport Unit, Sale Sharks Community Trust, One Manchester Housing Association, Wigan Borough Armed Forces Community HQ, Barnardo’s BeU Project and Greater Manchester Bridges Outcomes Partnerships will receive their share of 70 bikes to support community members throughout the region.

The five not-for-profit organisations will use their bikes to deliver a range of projects that will make it easier for community members to travel to work, connect with each other and embrace a more active lifestyle.

When is the new cycle hire scheme for the public launching?

Increased access to bikes through projects like these closely aligns to the delivery of The Bee Network, the UK’s largest cycling and walking network, with a new Greater Manchester cycle hire scheme due to be launched in November 2021.

This year has seen a significant shift in active travel. From 1 January to 31 July 2021, 290.9 million trips were made by bike and foot compared to 210.1 million over the same period in 2020.