Glasgow's secure cycle storage scheme continues to expand

Glasgow's secure on-street cycle storage scheme continues to expand, with the installation of 70 new shelters starting this week.

The additional shelters will provide 420 safe and convenient parking spaces for cycles owned by those living in flats and tenements to increase the practicality of cycling.

The shelters are being rolled out to support the growth of active travel by addressing the lack of storage at home and the inconvenience of carrying bikes up and down stairwells - issues that we know can discourage people from cycling or from taking it up in the first place.

The award-winning scheme in partnership with Cyclehoop has proved highly popular since it was introduced last year, with around 2,750 people now on a waiting list for a space. And with future phases of shelter installations planned, we are working as quickly as possible to meet demand and help support a greater reliance on cycling as an ordinary mode of transport. 

This latest batch of street-level shelters is being delivered through the third phase of the scheme roll-out. Once installed, there will be over 200 units across the city in total, providing more than 1,200 secure cycle parking spaces. The shelter locations also provide a wider geographical spread across the city and were identified following requests from the public.

Initially introduced as a pilot programme with Cyclehoop (who supply, manage and maintain the shelters), each unit accommodates six bicycles, with spaces costing £6 per month to hire.

Cllr Angus Millar, City Convener for Climate and Transport said: "The majority of Glaswegians live in flats where there is often no storage space or it's simply unsafe to leave a bike in a communal area. These issues can make it much less convenient to cycle and can put people off thinking about cycling as a viable way to get around. 

"It's clear from the popularity of the scheme that if practical solutions are offered, the demand is there, and so it's fantastic to see more secure storage being installed that's easy to use and will take away a significant barrier that deter people from relying on a bike. We are committed to further expansions of the secure cycle storage scheme which will help in our efforts to tackle the climate emergency and support a shift to more sustainable forms of travel which is essential if we are to decarbonise our transport network."

Scheme Expansion:

In a report to the council's Environment Committee in March 2022, it was confirmed that 120 storage units are planned for each of the next three years to try and meet demand for space.  This expansion will ensure that 720 cycle parking spaces per year will become available through the scheme.

To inform future expansion, you can suggest a new shelter location on the Cyclehoop Rental website. You can also use this link to search for a unit close to your home and apply to book a space.

Next Steps:

Work to install the 70 new shelters starts this week. Work is expected to be complete by mid-December.

Details of where the shelters will be located can be viewed by clicking on this link.

The new shelters will appear on the Cyclehoop Rental website as soon as possible following installation.