As Spring spurs many people to get back on their bikes, NHS Lanarkshire has doubled its number of secure bike parking shelters/stores.
New secure bike parking has been installed at eight sites to support staff cycling to work. They make a total of 16 sites with a communal bike store or shelter (and three more with individual bike lockers). The project used a grant from Cycling Scotland (with further funding from NHS Lanarkshire’s Environmental budget).
Units have been installed at the following sites:
- Airbles Road Centre, Motherwell;
- Bellshill Community Health Clinic;
- Blantyre Health Centre;
- Carluke Community Health Centre;
- Caird House, Hamilton;
- Lanark Health Centre and
- Motherwell Health Centre.
These seven sites now have a Bike Nest (‘bread bin’), similar to residential bike parking units in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Each bike store holds six bicycles and is completely enclosed to keep them safe (and dry!).
Staff at these sites can show their ID badge at the main reception to sign for the key. We recommend staff back their bike into the internal rack and lock their frame onto it, if possible (to help keep their bike upright). Each site is due to have ‘Sheffield’ stands installed as bike parking for patients and visitors.
Udston Hospital already had bike parking stands and now has had a 10-bike ‘anti-vandal’ shelter installed (to the right of the main entrance). Staff who’ve cycled to Udston can show their ID badge at the main reception to request the number code. There’s a number pad on the handle to enter the code and open the sliding door then a ‘toast rack’ inside to lock your bike onto.
Derek York, Bike User Group lead, said: “I’m very glad to see the units finally in place. We were ambitious when we bid for these grants in late 2021 (with my former colleagues Georgie Stuart and Michael Simpson). There have been a lot of changes since then so it’s been challenging to keep things going alongside my day job (graphic design).
“I feel it’s worthwhile to support colleagues directly to cycle to work (and hopefully pedal out some stress on the way!). Lack of secure storage was the top reason staff said they didn’t commute by bike in our travel survey.
“Cycling to work instead of driving, even one day a week, helps build activity into your routine and cuts congestion and pollution. More bikes in stores and shelters like these should mean fewer cars in our car parks and could save staff money on fuel or fares.
“I’m very proud of the BUG’s record of adding secure bike parking at 15 sites in the last three years. I hope the restructuring around active travel allows us to add more in future.”
Further information for staff on bike parking, cycle routes and Cycle to Work scheme is on NHS Lanarkshire’s intranet (search for the Bike User Group).
May welcomes a few challenges to take part in on your bike. Bike Month Challenge by Love to Ride is already underway. Register and choose NHS Lanarkshire as your employer to share rides and photos with colleagues.
Starting 25 May, NHS Lanarkshire’s Walking Challenge also allows cycling distances to be converted towards your ‘step count’. Sign up to the walking challenge today!
