Cyclists can take advantage of a new storage area at Stroud station thanks to a project supported by Great Western Railway and the town council.
The train operator teamed up with Stroud Town Council to provide 40 extra cycle parking spaces alongside the entrance to platform 2, which serves trains towards Gloucester.
Funding was secured from the town council (£13,000) and the Department for Transport’s Cycle Rail programme (£117,000).
Dan Okey, GWR’s interim head of commercial development, said: “We know that more people are now walking and cycling and this is likely to continue in future, and as more people have the confidence to return to rail travel it is important that we provide the facilities they need at the station.
“We are delighted to have worked with Stroud Town Council to get the new cycle storage in place. Stroud is an important station on our network and it is great to see investment being made here to support sustainable transport by bike and by train.”
Cllr Kevin Cranston, Mayor of Stroud, said: “We know that more people are wanting to use their bikes and cycle more but are sometimes concerned about security, so I am pleased to see that the new cycle parking facility is open at Stroud station.
“There is secure storage for up to 40 bikes under cover, so rail passengers will be able to cycle home on a dry saddle. The new bike storage provided by GWR offers the reassurance of CCTV coverage at all times and has convenient access to the platforms.”
With more people starting to use trains again operators are reminding passengers to:
Plan ahead – travel at quieter times where they can, buy a ticket online and in advance, and book ahead if you need travel assistance Consider others – wear a face covering unless you’re exempt, not travelling if you have Covid symptoms and consider others, not all disabilities can be seen Stay safe – maintaining your distance wherever possible; wash your hands and carry hand sanitiser, paying contactless where you can. GWR has been providing rail services throughout the pandemic and has worked to ensure that these are as safe as possible. This includes increased cleaning regimes and the use of a virucidal spray; extra staff at key stations to offer help and guidance; and processes in place to help customers maintain a safe distance where possible such as restricting the number of reservations available.