Twenty bike hangars providing on-street secure cycle parking will be installed in residential areas of Bath and North East Somerset during August as part of a two-year trial to improve travel choices for residents.

The additional cycle hangars will provide lockable and secure storage for 120 bikes for residents who don’t have access to private cycle parking, such as a shed or garage.

They will be installed later in August, in a colour in keeping with the location, and maintained and operated by Falco on behalf of Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The hangars are part of a £193,000 two-year trial, which is funded by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund awarded by The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and Bath Clean Air Zone revenue reserve. Each hangar can store six bikes, with each space costing £42 a year to rent, during the trial period.

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, said: “Our Journey to Net Zero policy aims to encourage a shift towards active travel methods such as cycling and discussions with residents who took part in the Citizens’ Panel on Active Travel revealed that while bike lanes were needed, it was also important having safe and secure storage for cycles.  

“If we can make it easier for residents to store a bike by providing secure cycle parking near their homes, we hope that more people will be encouraged to use a bike for short journeys around Bath. This will help to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution and improve public health.”

“I would like to thank the communities who took part in our consultation and came forward with locations. People will have another chance to request hangars in their area later in the year when the West of England Combined Authority will be consulting on sites for additional funded hangars.”

Hangars will be installed on The Street in Radstock, Carpenters Lane in Keynsham and at the following locations in Bath:

  • Grove Street
  • Railway Place
  • Camden Road
  • Portland Place
  • Cleveland Place
  • Henry Street
  • Walcot Street
  • Vane Street
  • Lansdown Place West
  • Park Place
  • Upper Church Street
  • South Parade
  • Henrietta Mews
  • Catharine Place
  • Archway Street
  • Pulteney Gardens
  • Sydney Mews
  • Grosvenor Place

A map of all the locations can be found on the council website. The locations were prioritised in areas where there was shown to be the greatest demand through our consultation and therefore greatest potential for an uplift in cycling. Factors such as relative level of deprivation, whether a cycle is a mobility aid for disabled people or for carrying children, the likelihood a cycle could be stolen and feasibility have all been considered.

The hangers can be reconfigured by removing one of the stands to allow additional storage space for non-standard bikes used by people with a disability. Non-standard bike spaces have not been requested by residents so far, however we encourage users to request this in future phases of delivery because we want the hangers to be inclusive.

The cycle hangars are already being trialled in Great Stanhope Street, New King Street and Sydney Buildings. Residents can find out more about the new hangars or rent a space for their bike at www.rentals.falco.co.uk.

The West of England Combined Authority has been granted funding from the government’s Active Travel Fund for cycle hangars across the area. A survey on proposed sites will be launched later in the summer and could include up to 20 more cycle hangars in B&NES.