Milton Keynes residents are set to benefit from 174 new and extremely secure cycling parking spaces in the city centre, with the first being installed at Lloyds Court this week.
Milton Keynes Council set aside £60,000 to install 87 Streetpods, which is a type of maximum-security bike storage for public spaces. The units are ‘Sold Secure Diamond-Rated’ - the highest level of bicycle security available in the UK (Sold Secure is an independent body that assesses security products). They’re resistant to prolonged attacks and as such are recommended by UK police.
The new pods, which are free to use, are being installed across the city centre including Lloyds Court, MK Gallery, in the wider Theatre District, and at Xscape and Midsummer Place.
Each pod can hold two bikes in a ’high-low’ design to avoid handlebar clashes. Each front wheel fits neatly into a secure shell made from recycled materials that contains a ring of reinforced solid steel, and the back wheel and frame can be additionally secured though the steel ring using the cyclist’s own D-lock. Experts recommend securing your bike with a heavy-duty ‘Sold Secure’ rated D-lock – or even two locks - where possible.
MK Council heard through its recent ‘Ride It, Lock It, Love It’ initiative that local people would be more likely to cycle to the city centre if they were more confident in security. The Council is committed to increasing the number of secure cycle parking options, as it wants to encourage more people to try travelling by two wheels and as such contribute to a cleaner, greener, healthier and more sustainable MK.
Cllr Jenny Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member responsible for Climate Action and Sustainability said: “We’re introducing these new Streetpods to give everyone more confidence in city centre bike security, and to encourage more people to choose two wheels more often as a way of cutting their carbon footprint. We’ll monitor their demand and keep working with partners to crack down on bike theft.”