A Manchester property company is being supported by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) in launching a new city-wide active travel initiative which will encourage people to return to the workplace safely and sustainably and support the city’s economic recovery.
Bruntwood is working with TfGM to produce new pop-up hubs have been established to encourage people to consider more active methods of travelling into and around the city and promote physical and mental wellbeing.
The Active Travel Hubs are support services for multi-modal transport, including opportunities for new and established cycling commuters to get support and guidance for safely travelling into the city and access stop-off points with engineers to help with maintenance. They will also provide maps, routes and advice to those walking and using other active methods of commuting including scooting and skating in place of cars and public transport.
The initiative, launched to coincide with global bike challenge Cycle September, will see the Active Travel Hubs pop up across the city centre and Trafford, including at the Bright Building at Manchester Science Park, Manchester Technology Centre on Oxford Road, Centurion House, Riverside, Manchester One, Trafford House and Lancastrian Office Centre.
Each hub will offer a Bicycle Bezzie scheme, which will enable new and less experienced cyclists to team up with keen bikers for guidance and support. Discounts and giveaways will also be available on essential bike kit, cycle hire and equipment from leading road cycling brand Rapha while other partners include Bike Right, Manchester Bike Hire and See.Sense.
Jessica Bowles, director of strategy at Bruntwood, said: “Manchester is focussed on bouncing back better and the city has already made huge strides in supporting people to return to the city with the introduction of new cycle routes, pop up cycle lanes, and socially distanced walkways.
“We can play a big role in supporting the thousands of people working across Greater Manchester to return to the workplace actively and safely but also sustainably in line with the government’s desire for a green recovery.
“Our goal is to help make sustainable travel more accessible so that many more people feel confident about commuting into the city without their cars or on public transport, and at the same time can look after their physical and mental wellbeing.”
Richard Nickson, Transport for Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Director, added: “We are thrilled to have been able to support Bruntwood’s Active Travel Hubs. This is a once in a generation opportunity to enable hundreds of thousands of people across Greater Manchester to get about by bike or other types of active travel, especially for everyday journeys. Having a hub to visit to get support and buddy up is a great asset. We want to make Greater Manchester the best place in the UK to get about on foot and by bike and it is initiatives like this one that will help us on the journey.”
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