An impressive new cycle hub opens today at Altrincham Interchange, the last piece of the jigsaw at the redeveloped transport facility.
The secure hub has 56 cycle parking spaces covered by CCTV, with swipe card access and lockers for storing cycle helmets and other cycling accessories.
From just £10 a year, people can park their bike at Altrincham Cycle Hub, as well as gaining access to 10 other local hubs across Greater Manchester – with more membership options available at Manchester City Tower and MediaCityUK cycle hubs, which offer showers and lockers.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Committee Chair, Councillor Andrew Fender, was joined by Councillor John Reilly, Executive Member for Environment and Operations at Trafford Council, and the TfGM Committee Cycling Champion, Councillor Chris Paul, for a sneak peek at the new facility.
Councillor Fender said: “The new cycle hub is great news for Altrincham, adding the final touch to the fantastic new transport interchange. Cycling is a really important part of the transport jigsaw and being able to leave your bike in safety at the new hub will make it much easier to commute by bike.
“It's right next to the railway station and Metrolink stop, so I’d encourage people to think about getting out of their cars and on their bike for the first and last part of their commute or leisure journey.”
The £19m transport interchange opened its doors last December, providing a fully integrated and accessible transport hub with better facilities and improved safety and security for bus passengers.
The redevelopment has provided a new ticket office and modern concourse as well as improved links between bus, train and tram services and enhanced CCTV and passenger information systems.
The interchange features a new 45-tonne steel bridge, with glazed sides and metal roof. The bridge crosses both the Network Rail and Metrolink lines, improving passenger access to four platforms via stairs and newly opened lifts.
The interchange is now significantly more environmentally friendly thanks to 53 solar panels that have been fitted to the roof of the concourse. Each of the panels is made up of solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity and will generate more than 9,500kWh of electricity and save 5.5 tonnes of CO2 each year, the greenhouse gas equivalent of two tonnes of waste sent to landfill.
TfGM also commissioned artists and local community and youth groups to create a new piece of artwork. Visitors to the interchange can find a set of historical paving slabs at various locations around the building.