FREE cycle stands will be provided to small organisations in the Swindon area.

Swindon Borough Council is working with cycling charity, Life Cycle UK to help small businesses and community organisations promote and enable cycling as a green and safe way to travel during the pandemic.

The council has been included in the second batch of the government’s Active Travel Fund which aims to keep people travelling safely during the pandemic and improve public transport capacity, travel infrastructure, or put in place measures to encourage walking and cycling.

Life Cycle UK has received funding to provide free Sheffield stands to small organisations which will help those who may be struggling financially to attract more people on bikes to their doorstep.

Life Cycle’s Take a Stand scheme will provide cycle parking to help people on bikes more safely access jobs and services during the pandemic and beyond. Each organisation can claim up to four free cycle stands, which can park eight bikes. All they have to do is install them.

A Grange Leisure and Community Centre spokesman said: "The scheme was so helpful for us in these difficult times.

"We are so pleased to be able to encourage people to cycle to the leisure centre, with the added health benefit that brings, and as we are located next to a school, we know some of the nearby schoolchildren are able to make use of our secure cycle parking too, this scheme is really helping the local community."

According to the government, cycling has tripled since the first lockdown, with more people opting to avoid the risks of public transport.

More than half of public transport users in the UK say they will continue to avoid buses and trains after the pandemic in favour of cycling or walking.

Life Cycle UK’s Take a Stand coordinator said: “We are delighted to be able to deliver high quality, secure cycle parking to small organisations in Swindon. With our help, small organisations can step up to become more accessible and welcoming to people who travel by bike – as well as boosting their ‘green credentials’. We welcome applications from all eligible organisations.”