Cycling in Greater Manchester

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File:Wharfside Metrolink Station, April 2020 (03).jpg

Cycling is a significant mode of transport for people commuting to work in Manchester. Current figures suggest that around 2% of all trips in Manchester are made by bike (2023).https://democracy.manchester.gov.uk/documents/s38131/Appendix%201%20draft%20Manchester%20Active%20Travel%20Strategy%20and%20Investment%20Plan-compressed.pdf {{bare URL PDF|date=February 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://madcyclelanesofmanchester.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/cycling-levels-up-and-down-in-gm.html|title=Mad Cycle Lanes of Manchester: Cycling levels up and down in GM|date=27 April 2014 |publisher=madcyclelanesofmanchester.blogspot.co.uk|access-date=2014-09-26}}

Transport for Greater Manchester aspire to "achieve at least a 300% increase in the levels of cycling across the city region by 2025"{{cite web|url=http://cycling.tfgm.com/Pages/cycling-strategy.aspx|title=Pages - Cycling Strategy|publisher=cycling.tfgm.com|access-date=2014-09-26}} and have produced a corresponding cycling strategy.{{cite web|url=http://cycling.tfgm.com/pages/pdfs/Cycling-Strategy-summary.pdf|date=30 June 2014|title=Greater Manchester Cycling Strategy July 2014|access-date=2014-09-26}}

Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign is a volunteer-run group.{{cite web|url=http://www.gmcc.org.uk/|title=GMCC Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign |quote=Working to make cycling quicker, safer, easier and more enjoyable. |publisher=gmcc.org.uk|access-date=2014-09-26}} Another pressure group for Greater Manchester is Walk Ride GM, which advocates for better environments and facilities for pedestrians as well as cyclists.{{cite web |url=https://walkridegm.org.uk/ |title=Walk Ride GM |access-date=2019-10-21}}{{cite web |url=https://newcycling.org/a-summary-of-the-agm-2019/ |title=A summary of the AGM 2019 |publisher=NewCycling |date=2019-06-12 |access-date=2019-10-21}}

The Manchester Cycle Forum enables people with an interest in cycling to meet councillors and council staff from Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester staff, and representatives from various cycling and transport organisations to discuss cycling-related issues in the city. Meetings take place quarterly.{{cite web |url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200102/cycling_and_walking/6851/manchester_cycle_forum |title=Manchester Cycle Forum |publisher=Manchester City Council |access-date=2016-12-20}}

Manchester Friends of the Earth coordinate the 'Love Your Bike' campaign,{{cite web |url=http://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/loveyourbike/ |title=Manchester Friends of the Earth - Love Your Bike |access-date=2017-02-17}} which promotes cycling as an environmentally friendly mode of transport. One of its activities is the 'Bike Friday' scheme, monthly rides from outer districts into the city centre. These are aimed at encouraging commuters to cycle in to work, benefiting from the added safety and sociability of riding in a group.{{cite web |url=http://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/loveyourbike/bikefriday/ |title=Manchester Friends of the Earth - Bike Friday |access-date=2017-02-17}}

In 2015, Manchester was described as a "terrible cycling city" by Helen Pidd, the North of England editor of the Guardian newspaper.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/the-northerner/2015/aug/18/why-manchester-is-a-terrible-cycling-city |title=Why Manchester is a terrible cycling city |author=Helen Pidd |work=The Guardian |date=2015-08-18 |access-date=2015-08-19}}

Chris Boardman was appointed Cycling and Walking Commissioner for Greater Manchester in 2017 by mayor Andy Burnham.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/31/chris-boardman-riding-a-bike-on-uk-roads-feels-too-dangerous-for-me |title=Chris Boardman: riding a bike on UK roads feels too dangerous for me |work=The Guardian |author=Helen Pidd |date=2017-08-31 |access-date=2017-09-06}} His remit includes overseeing projects to enhance the region's cycling network and increase the number of people who travel by bike.{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/olympic-cyclist-chris-boardman-announced-13397128 |title=Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman is announced as Greater Manchester's new cycling and walking commissioner |publisher=Manchester Evening News |access-date=2017-09-06}}

He was replaced by Dame Sarah Storey in 2022 {{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-60750021#:~:text=Paralympian%20Dame%20Sarah%20Storey%20says,vision%20for%20the%20city%2Dregion| title=Dame Sarah Storey appointed Greater Manchester's cycling commissioner | work=BBC News | date=15 March 2022 }}

In June 2017 Mobike started a bicycle-sharing scheme across the city allowing users to hire bikes via its app. Riders paid a deposit and were then charged 50p per 30 minutes.{{cite web |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/mobike-manchester-how-it-works-13248743 |title=Mobike Manchester city bikes: How to use them, where are they and how to get the app |publisher=Manchester Evening News |access-date=2017-09-03 |date=2017-08-24 |author=Charlotte Cox}} The scheme was suspended in September 2018 due to the high level of vandalism caused to many of the bicycles.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-45422065|title=Crime-hit Mobike suspends Manchester sharing scheme|publisher=BBC|date=5 September 2018|access-date=8 March 2019}}

File:A puddle in the northbound bicycle lane along the Curry Mile, Manchester, UK 02.jpg]]

A 2013 study by TfGM into the possibility of a bike hire scheme had suggested that an initial scheme should focus on a concentrated portion at the centre of the conurbation, including Manchester city centre, Salford Quays, Oxford Road and Hulme.{{cite report |url=http://www.gmcc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/TfGM_Cycle_Hire_Study.pdf |title=Transport for Greater Manchester Cycle Hire Study |page=90 (section 6.4) |date=2013-09-13 |access-date=2016-02-17}}

The new bike hire scheme known as Beryl,{{Cite web|url=https://beeactive.tfgm.com/cycling/get-a-bike/|title=Get a bike - Access to bikes|website=TfGM Bee Active}} started in November 2021 as a public trial with 250 cycles on Oxford Road. By the summer of 2022 they plan to have 1,500 bikes across Manchester, Trafford & Salford. The scheme will have 200 stations with around 198,000 residents with in a 5-minute walk, with stations roughly 300–500 meters apart. The stations contain stands to place the bikes on but are not secure docking stations. It works on a PAYR (Pay as you ride) basis and the back wheel is locked when stationary. When it launches me Mechanical hire cycles will cost 50p to unlock and 5p per minute, The E-bike will cost £1 to unlock and 10p per minute to ride.{{Cite web|title=GM Bike Hire scheme to launch in November 2021|url=https://activetravel.tfgm.com/bee-network-cycle-hire/|url-status=live|website=Transport For Greater Manchester Active Travel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018201101/https://activetravel.tfgm.com/bee-network-cycle-hire/ |archive-date=18 October 2021 }}

The Beryl bike hire scheme was hit by a wave of vandalism during 2023 with damage taking 564 of the 943 bikes off the roads leaving only 379 bikes in Manchester, Salford and Trafford{{Cite news |date=2023-06-27 |title=More than half of bikes in Greater Manchester hire scheme need repairs |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-66034291 |access-date=2023-08-15}}

The city was the first to get a "Brompton Bike Hire" facility, at Piccadilly station.{{cite web |url=http://www.gmcc.org.uk/2012/04/manchester-becomes-first-city-to-host-brompton-hire-facility/ |title=Manchester, first city to get a Brompton Dock hire {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|facil|ty}} |author=Alex B |date=2012-04-13 |access-date=2015-06-17}}

The Bee Network is a project launched by TfGM with the aim to connect up every area and community in Greater Manchester, making it easy, safe and attractive for people to travel on foot or by bike for everyday trips. A large focus is being put on to cycling in this project, therefore TfGM are investing money in many things that encourage cycling in combination with Local Authorities such as cycling infrastructure, Cycle hire scheme, Cycle hubs and many courses to help people learn to ride a bike.{{Cite web|title=The Bee Network|url=https://activetravel.tfgm.com/bee-network-vision/|access-date=2021-10-29|website=TfGM Active Travel|language=en-GB}}

File:Cycleway in Whitworth Park - geograph.org.uk - 1128572.jpg

File:Single file on the Pennine Bridleway - geograph.org.uk - 1354828.jpg

Major dedicated cycle routes in Greater Manchester or passing through areas of the city include:

• National Cycle Route 6
• National Cycle Route 55
• Fallowfield Loop (National Cycle Route 60)
• Trans Pennine Trail (National Cycle Route 62)
• National Cycle Route 66

{{cite web |url=https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/commuting/article/trav20120320-Cycle-Commuting-Guide---Manchester-0 |title=Cycle Commuting Guide - Manchester |publisher=British Cycling |date=2012-03-29 |access-date=2015-07-18}}

Regional Cycle Route 85 deviates from National Cycle Route 6 at Whalley Range to link the city centre with Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport. Other numbered regional routes include the 82 (better known as Bridgewater Way) and the 86 (which follows the River Medlock).

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A pair of digital bicycle counters installed on either side of the road near Whitworth Park in September 2016 had reached a combined total of 1,000,000 bike journeys by late 2017.{{cite web |url=https://tfgm.com/press-release/cycleway-surpasses-one-million-milestone |title=Cycleway surpasses one-million milestone |publisher=Transport for Greater Manchester |access-date=2017-12-10 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211053755/https://tfgm.com/press-release/cycleway-surpasses-one-million-milestone |url-status=dead }}

In 2019, TfGM began developing a "Bee Network" of cycle routes across Greater Manchester.{{Cite web |title=Schemes in Manchester |url=https://beeactive.tfgm.com/schemes/manchester/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=TfGM Bee Active |language=en-GB}}{{cite news |first=Charlotte |last=Cox |title=Mapped: The first 15 routes in Chris Boardman's £1.5bn cycling and walking masterplan |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/cycling-walking-masterplan-routes-chorlton-14930463|publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=20 July 2018 |access-date=8 March 2019}}

The 1st part of the Chorlton Cycleway has been delivered with Dutch style junctions known as cyclops junctions, a first in the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://tfgm.com/travel-updates/chorlton-cycle-route|title=Manchester to Chorlton cycling and walking route|website=Transport for Greater Manchester|access-date=25 October 2020|archive-date=24 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024154153/https://tfgm.com/travel-updates/chorlton-cycle-route|url-status=dead}}

As part of the segregated Chorlton Cycleway, the UK's first 'Cyclops" junction was completed in July 2020 in Hulme.{{cite web | url=https://cities-today.com/uks-first-cyclops-junction-opens-in-manchester-to-boost-bike-safety/ | title=UK's first 'CYCLOPS' junction opens in Manchester to boost bike safety | date=9 July 2020 }}

Modal filters across Greater Manchester have been in place for over 40 years.{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Peter |date=2021-05-16 |title=Critics of UK low-traffic schemes told that 25,000 filters already existed |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/16/critics-of-uk-low-traffic-schemes-told-that-25000-filters-already-existed |access-date=2023-08-15 |issn=0261-3077}}

The Levenshulme and Burnage Active Neighbourhood was partially completed in 2023 with a series of filters throughout the neighbourhood to help encourage active travel trips.{{cite web | url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200024/consultations_and_surveys/8009/levenshulme_and_burnage_active_neighbourhood | title=Proposal | Levenshulme and Burnage active neighbourhood | Manchester City Council }}

The Manchester Sky Ride, a mass participation bike ride, was held in August every year,{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/sky-ride-manchester-cyclists-takeover-8850783 |title=Sky Ride Manchester: Cyclists to takeover [sic] the city centre roads for traffic-free event |publisher=Manchester Evening News |author=Charlotte Cox |date=2015-03-17 |access-date=2015-08-31}} and became the HSBC UK City Ride from July 2017.{{cite news |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/hsbc-take-sky-british-cycling-sponsor-284699 |title=HSBC to take over from Sky as British Cycling sponsor |publisher=Cycling Weekly |access-date=2017-05-14}}{{cite web |url=https://www.letsride.co.uk/city-ride/manchester |title=Let's Ride - City Ride Manchester |access-date=2017-05-14}} The Great Manchester Cycle is a similar large-scale event held during the summer in recent years.

A Critical Mass event takes place on the last Friday of every month, starting by Manchester Central Library.{{cite news |url=http://lcc.org.uk/articles/manchester-makes-strides-with-mass-ride |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105154554/http://lcc.org.uk/articles/manchester-makes-strides-with-mass-ride |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2013 |title=Manchester makes strides with mass ride |publisher=London Cycling Campaign |access-date=2015-08-31 }} A naked bike ride is held annually early in the summer,{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-naked-cyclists-bike-ride-7231630 |title=Hundreds take to Manchester streets for naked bike ride – pictures and video |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=2014-06-06 |access-date=2015-08-31}} along with a non-corporate DIY cycling festival, North West Velofest.{{cite news |url=http://nwvelofest.com/ |title=North West Velofest|publisher=North West Velo Fest.}}{{cite news |url=http://road.cc/content/news/223308-manchester-cycling-festival-begin-nude-bike-ride |title=Manchester cycling festival to begin with nude bike ride |publisher=road.cc |author=Alex Bowden |date=2017-05-27 |access-date=2017-09-03}}

There are over 200 cycle clubs in Greater Manchester, catering to many styles of cycling,{{Cite news|url=https://chorltonwanderers.wordpress.com/local-groups/|title=Local Groups|newspaper=Chorlton Wanderers Bicycle Rides Group |date=8 May 2022}} with Manchester Wheelers' Club being one of the most well-known.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

Well known sportives include the "Manchester 100", a choice of 100 mile or 100 km rides to the south of the city,{{cite web |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/sportives/sportive-reviews/cyclo-sportive-manchester-100-64914 |title=Cyclo-Sportive: Manchester 100 |publisher=Cycling Weekly |date=2009-11-25 |access-date=2019-10-21}} and the "Tour de Manc", a 100-mile ride through all the ten boroughs.{{cite web |url=https://www.tourdemanc.co.uk/ |title=Tour de Manc |access-date=2019-10-21}}

A combined velodrome and athletics stadium, Fallowfield Stadium opened in 1892. The cycling track was 509 yards in circumference and was used for the 1934 British Empire Games. It was demolished in 1994.

• Bee Network

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Category:Transport in Manchester

Manchester