Cycling celebration

Posted: 26/09/2022

The end of the long-anticipated Wythenshawe Cycle Hub construction works culminated in an opening event on September 24 at Wythenshawe Park.   

The cycle hub includes a pump track, a learn to ride area adjacent to the athletics track area of the park, a mountain bike skills zone located in the space occupied previously by the pitch and putt course, woodland trails, and a family trail around the perimeter of the park.

The hub provides free access to cycling facilities and trained instructors who will offer lessons.  

Designed to ‘encourage residents to get on their bikes and allow people to practise cycling in a safe, traffic free environment’, the hub is part of a wider Manchester City Council (MCC) strategy to motivate more Mancunians to learn how to cycle, to choose cycling as their mode of transport, and to encourage people to take advantage of the cycle routes and e-bikes in and around the city. 

Wythenshawe Park has benefited from a £1.55 million revamp thanks to Manchester City Council and Sport England’s Places 2 Ride fund delivered in conjunction with British Cycling Sport England and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Grant funding was matched from the MCC Parks Development Programme to develop the cycle hub and improve the surrounding facilities.

Councillor John Hacking, Manchester City Council’s executive member for skills, employment, and leisure, said: “The council are dedicated to encouraging more cycling in and around Manchester and Wythenshawe Cycling Hub is a great way to encourage residents to hop on their bikes and improve their confidence cycling in a safe, traffic free environment.

“The completion of the cycle hub will benefit residents all over Manchester of all ages. I’d encourage all residents to get on their bikes and head down!”  

Robert Pickering, lead cycling delivery manager for the Northwest at British Cycling, said: “British Cycling, through its Sport England funded Places to Ride programme, has been working closely with Manchester City Council to develop brand new and exciting range of cycling facilities at Wythenshawe Park, Manchester.  

“As well as over 3 miles of cycling trails through the park, a new mountain bike skills area, learn to ride area and BMX pump track have been constructed offering the community fantastic opportunities to go cycling in the city.”

Due to time constraints, the consultation for the park developments took place online. The full survey was completed by 1,419 respondents, a further 701 completed it in part.