Property company Bruntwood has launched a city-wide initiative to encourage people to return to the workplace safely and sustainably.
The company, with support from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), has established ‘active travel hubs’, which offer support for people, including for cycling commuters and those who choose to walk, skate or scoot to work.
The hubs feature maps, routes and advice as well as a ‘bicycle bezzie’ scheme, designed to help newer cyclists team up with more experienced cyclists for support and guidance.
Bruntwood has put up hubs in the city centre and Trafford, including at the Bright Building at Manchester Science Park, Manchester Technology Centre on Oxford Road, Centurion House, Riverside, Manchester One, Trafford House and Lancastrian Office Centre.
Jessica Bowles, director of strategy at Bruntwood, said: “Manchester is focused on bouncing back better and the city has already made huge strides in supporting people to return to the city with the introduction of new cycle routes, pop up cycle lanes, and socially distanced walkways.
“We can play a big role in supporting the thousands of people working across Greater Manchester to return to the workplace actively and safely but also sustainably in line with the government’s desire for a green recovery.
“Our goal is to help make sustainable travel more accessible so that many more people feel confident about commuting into the city without their cars or on public transport, and at the same time can look after their physical and mental wellbeing.”
The initiative was launched to coincide with global bike challenge Cycle September.
Richard Nickson, Transport for Greater Manchester’s active travel director, said: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to enable hundreds of thousands of people across Greater Manchester to get about by bike or other types of active travel, especially for everyday journeys.
“Having a hub to visit to get support and buddy up is a great asset.
“We want to make Greater Manchester the best place in the UK to get about on foot and by bike and it is initiatives like this one that will help us on the journey.”
