New bike storage supports more people to cycle to school

Pupils and teachers at schools across Dorset are enjoying space for 260 more cycles following the installation of brand new cycle storage facilities.

The storage was funded by Dorset Council through the Department for Transport’s Travel Demand Management Fund and Local Transport Plan Fund, and jointly organised with walking and cycling charity Sustrans.

Amongst the schools who received additional storage, The Purbeck School now has a total of 200 covered cycle parking spaces. Lytchett Minster School has an additional 20 spaces, bringing their total to nearly 200 as well. Milldown Primary School in Blandford now has a new 40 space shelter on site.

Bike It Officers from Sustrans work with pupils, parents and staff at schools across the county, supporting them to choose active travel. Having worked in the area since 2010, the officers identified schools that would benefit from additional cycle storage.

The storage has been installed to help more people to cycle to school by accommodating the increasing number of cycles.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment said: –

“I want to give a big thank you to Sustrans and everyone involved in getting these new storage facilities installed. Anything that encourages people to get out of their cars and into active travel such as cycling gets a thumbs up from me. As well as improving health and wellbeing, cycling also helps cut down on vehicle emissions – one of the primary goals set within our Climate and Ecological Emergency strategy for Dorset.”

Jonathan Dixon, Bike It Plus Officer from Sustrans, said: –

“It’s brilliant to see the new storage in place and being used already. It’s so important that we have somewhere safe to keep our bikes when we arrive at our destination, and these facilities offer exactly that for the pupils and staff.

Cycling is a great way to get the exercise we need to keep healthy, and research shows that pupils study better in the classroom, and staff are more productive when they cycle to work.”

Pupils from Milldown Primary School said: –

“We like the huge, dome shape, which looks really smart. It’s in a good new location, which is so much safer away from the road and behind a locked fence. There’s so much more room for our bikes and scooters!”

Head teacher at The Purbeck School Adam Darley said: –

“The Purbeck School was delighted to work with Sustrans on the new cycle shelters. The stylish shelters have not only encouraged our students and staff to cycle to school, but have also provided them with a safe, dry place to store their bikes. They have been a hugely positive addition to the school site and we would like to thank Sustrans for the work and support they put in place to ensure that the project was completed.”