A NEW cycle hub will be at the heart of Grimsby's drive towards greener transport.
The new facility, which will be located in a disused building at Grimsby Town railway station, will offer commuters and visitors the chance to safely leave their bikes in a secure, monitored environment, accessed using state-of-the-art electronic keys.
The Cycle Hub will also offer servicing and repairs, maintenance workshops, cycle training and a shower for commuters to freshen-up before going to work.
It will be run by Cycle Lincs, a not-for-profit social enterprise which already offers the region's only mobile cycle hire service, delivering and collecting bikes door-to-door.
Janine Walker, director of Cycle Lincs, said: "We are delighted to be a part of the Green Transport project. Cycling is such a fun, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly form of transport. And we want to see the town embrace it as a viable option for travel – with the bonus of getting fit and healthy.
"This is a great service for tourists or for people who are staying with relatives and fancy a cycle around North East Lincolnshire.
"There are so many things to see within cycling distance and you get a far better feel for the place when you are on your bike. The borough has such a diverse range of territory that it is suitable for all levels of cycling and for all tastes."
Cycle Lincs hire a range of hybrid bikes that are suitable on roads as well as light, off-road trails. They hire adult, youth and children's bikes as well as tagalongs, towalongs and child seats for those too young to ride on their own.
The scheme also has tandems and a Penny Farthing for those who fancy something a bit more unusual.
The cycle hub is one element in the £6-million transformation of Grimsby town centre, which includes the revamp of Station Approach and the Riverhead.
As part of the work, a new pedestrian and cycle link will provide an uncluttered route between the bus station and the rest of the town centre.
A new space will be constructed at the junction of Bethlehem Street and Station Approach to encourage slower traffic speeds and cycle movement, with the aim of encouraging more "active travel" and reducing the number of standing vehicles that currently occupy this space.
Also included in the £6-million project are a number of schemes aimed at boosting the use of green transport in the borough (see panels for more details).
Councillor Peter Wheatley, North East Lincolnshire Council's portfolio holder for regeneration and environment, said: "The cycle hub is one of a number of schemes to benefit from the successful bid by the council for Local Sustainable Transport Funding. Together, these projects will ease congestion and help to kick-start regeneration in Grimsby town centre and beyond."
ON THE WEB: Want to know more about the new cycle hub and other green transport schemes?
Put your questions to officers from North East Lincolnshire Council and its partner Balfour Beatty in tomorrow's web debate. Log onto www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk from noon tomorrow to take part.
NEXT WEEK: We look at how the £6-million project will support the town's economic regeneration.
