The new location includes a workspace, cafe, shower facilities and secure bike storage
A NEW secure facility for people in Cardiff to store their bikes in the city centre is set to open soon.
The facility on Windsor Place, a partnership between Cardiff Council and The Bike Lock Ltd, will provide secure storage for at least 50 bikes, as well as a cafe, workspace, shower and changing facilities.
Members of the cycling group Cardiff Social Cycling have praised the initiative hoping it will encourage more to cycle in the city.
Hannah Bird, from Roath, says: “I will definitely use it if I need to pop into town on my own bike after work. It is a great idea and the more we can encourage cycling, walking and using public transport the better.
“Cardiff is such a small and relatively flat city. There is really no need to be driving journeys shorter than three miles if there is a more environmentally friendly alternative.”
Steve Gabriel who helps run Cardiff Social Cycling said that while he doesn’t plan to use the new facility, he still views it as a good thing for the city.
“I can see the point of secure storage. It’s something I considered myself a few years back as a possible business opportunity but didn’t think I could make it work. Good luck to the company behind it I say. Anything that may help people cycle more is a good thing of course,” he said.
The facility would be the first of its kind in Wales. The idea is that Bike Lock will give Cardiff Council a better idea of how to develop similar and larger projects in the city centre to help reduce climate emissions from travel.
Tom Overton, who has founded the Bike Lock, cannot wait to get going. “The Bike Lock will offer ‘pay as you go’ options alongside monthly memberships, and we’ll also be working with city centre employers so they can offer the service to their employees,” he explained.
Bike theft is a significant issue in the city with nearly 1,500 bikes stolen in a year in 2020. Despite this, cycling is estimated to have increased by 10% according to the council.
Previous announcements have been made about storage hangers being installed in 2020 but never became reality.
Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: “We are delighted to work with Bike Lock Ltd to bring this exciting new facility to Cardiff. We understand how important it is for cyclists to know that their bikes can be stored safely and securely in the city.”
