Helping Local Councils Facilitate the Impact of Cycling on UK Towns and Cities

From town planning and public spaces to encourage green initiatives to facilitate regional and national sporting events, local government organisations are at the forefront of sourcing and specifying urban street furniture that has a practical purpose, such as commercial bike racks.

The man on the street probably does not even realise the extent to which the humble bike rack plays a role in the everyday landscape. However, once prompted, you realise that they are everywhere - from town squares to council offices to high streets across the country. Someone has to be responsible for the purchase, installation and maintenance of these essential items, and that responsibility often falls on the shoulders of the local council.

The returns, though, are there for all to see. 10 years ago, a study into the economic impact of cycling on the UK calculated that the gross cycling contribution amounted to £2.9 billion. A more recent report stated that for every £1 invested in walking and cycling has a return of £5-6.

The following are just examples of the importance of the role played by floor-mounted bike racks influence our everyday environment.

Green Initiatives - Moving Towards Net Zero

Local councils are at the heart of the drive to achieve the government’s net zero ambitions, and across the country, towns and cities are putting schemes in place designed to reduce carbon emissions. Housing, waste, and planning are key areas in which significant changes can be made in a bid to reach this goal, and collaboration with local businesses is key to meeting these targets.

Strategies need to take into account the overall environmental, economic and social impact of any plans, and identifying these challenges is a major and crucial step towards establishing the way forward.

Schemes, such as the national Bike2Work initiative, can achieve a greater degree of success if supported and facilitated by local councils. Recognising that infrastructural changes have to be made to support convenient bike usage, and making the necessary investments, can encourage a greater degree of uptake. From creating more bike-friendly roads to installing more commercial bike racks for the safe storage of bikes, more people will be encouraged to leave their cars at home and enjoy the physical exercise and freedom of cycling to work.

Facilitating Event Management

With Brits being urged on an almost daily basis to climb on the saddle, cycling has become big business in the UK. Every weekend the country roads that crisscross this beautiful island are populated by flurries of Lycra-clad cyclists improving their physical and mental well-being by pedalling away their concerns.

There are currently 2200 registered cycling clubs and 125,000 registered members of their nationwide governing body, British Cycling.

Cycling events are big businesses and bring important income to often-forgotten corners of the country. The more a local council can support and facilitate these events, the more they are likely to become a fixed and integral part of the annual economy. While many clubs will have their own event bike rack supplies, supplementing these with freestanding bike stand ranges that can be supplied when needed can make a big difference to these grassroots organisations.

Adapting Public Spaces

Supporting and encouraging the integration of an increase in cycling across our towns and cities does require adaptations to public spaces and transport infrastructure. Running a campaign to encourage people to get onto their bikes will not give any long-lasting results if those same people cannot safely store their bikes or fear for their lives (and their kids’ lives) every time they drop them off at school on two wheels rather than four.

While integrating cycleways requires significant infrastructural investment, making sure that there is ample secure bike storage is a relatively low-cost but highly effective project that can be implemented quickly and easily.

How to Choose the Best Commercial Bike Racks

Commercial bike racks are a low-key but important element of the urban landscape. Rarely are they noticed until you need one, which is when you start to realise that there is a severe shortage. This can be simply rectified by a local council.

A robust and versatile design, coupled with security, are key features. Manufactured from galvanised steel, Bison commercial bike racks are designed with versatility in mind. They can be fixed directly into the ground without any need to dig out for footings. If required, they can be removed and placed in a different location. 

The most important for local councils is to make sure that they are leading by example by installing ample bike storage at their own council buildings so that their own employees benefit from the myriad benefits of cycling to and from work.

For more information about Bison’s range of commercial and event bike racks, contact us anytime at 01283 215097.