The long-anticipated Wythenshawe Cycle Hub construction works have finished, and the state-of-the-art infrastructure is now open for Mancunians of all ages and cycling abilities to enjoy.
Since February the council’s construction partners Equans have been busy constructing the cycle hub and the works were completed in July this year. The Hub is open for residents to use, and an official opening event will take place on Saturday 24 September.
The new space, located around the existing athletics track area of the park, includes a pump track, a learn to ride area, mountain bike skills zone, woodland trails, and family trail. Making it a perfect zone for new and seasoned cyclists to enjoy.
The council hope that the new hub will encourage residents to get on their bikes and allow people to practise cycling in a safe, traffic-free environment.
The hub will also provide free access to cycling facilities for all and will allow people to book cycling lessons with trained instructors.
In tandem with this, the construction of the hub aims to motivate more Mancunians to learn how to cycle, to choose cycling as their mode of transport and, encourage people to take advantage of the cycle routes and e-bikes in and around the city.
Wythenshawe Park has benefited from a £1.55 million revamp thanks to Manchester City Council and Sport England’s Places 2 Ride fund delivered in conjunction with British Cycling.
The £1.55million cycle hub has been made possible following a successful application by Manchester City Council to the Places 2 Ride Fund. Wythenshawe Park has received an award offer of £500k from the Places to Ride programme (which is being delivered through a partnership of British Cycling, Sport England and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). This funding has been matched by the City Council through the Parks Development Programme to develop the chosen area of the park into a Cycle Hub and improve the surrounding facilities.
The opening event will take place on Saturday 24 September, local councillors and residents are invited to attend.
On the day, there will be activities and workshops taking place from family-friendly cycling activities to specialist sessions and demonstrations there will be a wide range of activities for cyclists, old and new, to enjoy from 11am-3pm with the official opening ceremony taking place at 12:30pm.
Councillor John Hacking, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure, said: “I’m pleased that Wythenshawe Cycle Hub has been completed and is ready for residents to enjoy. This is a great investment on behalf of Manchester City Council and Sport England, through the Places to Ride programme. I’d like to thank British Cycling, Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for their investment and all those at EQUANS for their hard work on this project.
“The council are dedicated to encouraging more cycling in and around Manchester and Wythenshawe Cycling Hub is a great way to encourage residents to hop on their bikes and improve their confidence cycling in a safe, traffic-free environment. The completion of the cycle hub will benefit residents all over Manchester of all ages. I’d encourage all residents to get on their bikes and head down!”
Robert Pickering, Lead Cycling Delivery Manager for the Northwest at British Cycling, said: “British Cycling, through its Sport England funded Places to Ride programme, has been working closely with Manchester City Council to develop brand new and exciting range of cycling facilities at Wythenshawe Park, Manchester.
“As well as over 3 miles of cycling trails through the park, a new mountain bike skills area, learn to ride area and BMX pump track have been constructed offering the community fantastic opportunities to go cycling in the city. For many years, British Cycling has been in partnership with Manchester City Council and the development of these facilities demonstrate the close working relationship between the two organisations for the benefit of the people of Manchester.”
Alyson Seddon, Head of Education and Public Buildings at EQUANS, said: “This is a really impressive scheme, which EQUANS is delighted to be involved in on behalf of Manchester City Council and the wider Wythenshawe community. Wythenshawe Park is often the first significant experience of landscape, nature, history and cultural events for people growing up and living in the area, so we’re honoured to have played a part in the park’s future.”
