A new pilot cycle hub is set to make it easier for people to travel into King’s Lynn on bicycle when it opens on a key route into town in January.
The temporary facility on Baker Lane is being installed by Norfolk County Council and will offer secure cycle parking for up to 40 bikes.
The hub, which has been made possible through Community Renewal Funding, from Norfolk County Council will be a forerunner for a permanent travel hub that is being developed as part of the Town Deal programme of investment in King’s Lynn.
Through the pilot scheme, the project team will be able to assess use and feedback from the public which will then help to shape the development of the permanent travel hub.
People are being invited to share their thoughts online about the pilot facility and to help inform the development of the permanent hub: Baker Lane Cycle Hub. The designs for the permanent hub will also be displayed in the pilot space when it opens, and people will be able to share their thoughts.
The need for a hub has been informed by previous consultation which revealed some appetite for improvements around sustainable travel and storage. In the walking and cycling survey in October 2020, 86% of respondents stated that the main improvement around cycle storage they wanted to see was cycle storage in King’s Lynn town centre.
The pilot hub and the permanent facility reflect both Norfolk County Council’s Active Travel focus and the Borough Council’s commitment to active and clean travel in the town.
Councillor Sam Sandell, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk added:
“Supporting more sustainable ways for people to travel is a priority and we want to make it easier for people to choose active and clean travel options.
“Through the pilot hub, we have a great opportunity to not only offer cycle storage but gain insight and understanding that can inform the development of the permanent travel hub so that it can most effectively meet the needs of local people.
“This is a step forward in delivering our ambitions to support more environmentally friendly modes of travel around King’s Lynn.”
The pilot hub, which will offer a cycle hangar and repair stand, is set to open in January 2023 and will remain in operation until the work on the permanent travel hub is complete, expected to be in 2024.
Whilst detailed designs are still to be finalised, the new travel hub will include bike racks, e-bike charging, lockers, scooter racks, repair stand, and CCTV.
The permanent travel hub will build on the feedback from the pilot cycle hub and will provide a long-term solution to support active and clean travel in King’s Lynn town centre.
Anyone wishing to find out more can visit Baker Lane Cycle Hub.
