Cyclists riding high with better security at Thameslink's St Albans station

The MP for St Albans, Daisy Cooper, has opened Thameslink's more secure cycle parking hub at St Albans station, promoting greener travel in the community.

With storage for up to 415 bikes in a fenced-off area, the hub has increased CCTV coverage and can only be accessed by a fob which customers can register for, for free at the ticket office. 

Ms Cooper was joined at the opening by Thameslink station manager Harsitt Chandak, ward councillor Jacquie Taylor and representatives from St Albans Cycling Campaign, Sustrans, Bedford & Herts Community Rail Partnership, Hertfordshire County Council and British Transport Police, who supported the installation of the cycle hub.

Ms Cooper said: “I was delighted to open the new cycle hub at St Albans station. We must do all we can to encourage people to change the way they travel to more sustainable modes such as cycling, walking and using the bus. This new hub will give people greater reassurance that their bikes will be safer at the station."

St Albans Station Manager Harsitt Chandak said: "As we emerge from the pandemic and people start travelling again, we want to help them choose the greenest options, by taking the train and getting to our stations sustainably.

"Jointly, by making small but important changes such as this at St Albans, we can together with our passengers and local communities make a real difference for our planet and the generations to come."

The hub has been funded by the Department for Transport’s cycle rail fund, being managed by the sustainable transport charity Sustrans, with further funding from Hertfordshire County Council.

The government fund aims to improve cycling facilities at stations, promote economic growth, improve journeys, and encourage environmentally-friendly transport to cut carbon. Encouraging bike journeys to stations is also high on the agenda as a way of encouraging people to get out and enjoy ‘active travel’ as part of their journeys.

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