Our new Active Travel Hub – Barnsley Bike Works is officially open.

The newly refurbished Barnsley Bike Works was opened to the community today with Sport England and Barnsley Council.

Sport England’s latest Active Lives survey has found that the number of active adults in Barnsley has increased by nearly 8% (from 53.4% to 61%) in the last year. While this is positive progress and the greatest increase in Yorkshire, the research also shows that over a quarter 27% of adults in Barnsley are not active enough for good health.

The Bike Works is crucial in supporting more people in Barnsley to get active, for both leisure and travel.  As well as having a town centre unit, the Bike Works visits local schools, communities and workplaces to encourage people to walk, cycle and wheel.

The Bike Works offers a range of services, including:-

• Bike and e-bike Loans: Residents can sign up for bike loans to encourage cycling as a mode of transport.
• Bike Repairs: The hub provides facilities for bike repairs, ensuring that cyclists can maintain their bikes in good condition.
• Secure cycle parking: Secure bike parking facilities are available for users to safely store their bikes.
• School, community and workplace outreach services
• Learn to ride programme
• Bike recycling and donation scheme
• Toilet and changing facilities
• Information and advice on local walking and cycling routes

From Tuesday 27 May, The Bike Works Hub will be open weekdays from 9am – 5pm.

The Bike Works is contributing to Barnsley’s Active in Barnsley Partnership, which aims to encourage 20,000 residents to take up physical activity as part of everyday life, and especially those who need the most help to move more for better physical and mental health. The hub aims to promote active travel and support the health and well-being of the community by encouraging more people to cycle.

To support in this mission, Sport England is investing nearly £1 million in Barnsley to support local organisations and leaders to work together with their communities to co-design opportunities for people to be active.  The Barnsley Bike Works demonstrates how Sport England’s investments encourage other sectors, such as transport and health, to embed sport and physical activity into their work, leading to further funding to support local communities in getting active. Sport England is investing £250 million into this place-based way of working, to more than 90 places across England that are in the top 10% of the country for inactivity, social need, deprivation and health inequality. 

Cllr James Higginbottom, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment and Highways, said: “We’re pleased to officially open Barnsley’s newly refurbished Barnsley Bike Works.

“Our new facility is all about making cycling accessible for everyone in our borough. By offering free bike repairs, skills workshops, bike schemes and programmes, we’re working to remove barriers that often stop people getting started.

“Whether you’re commuting, riding for leisure or just starting out, our goal is to empower everyone to become more physically active and live a healthier lifestyle.

“I encourage all residents to visit the hub and sign up for the bike schemes.”

Executive Director for Place, Sport England, Lisa Dodd-Mayne, said: “We’re working hand in hand with Barnsley, and many more communities across England, to help more people lead healthy and happy lives through sport and physical activity. 

“We are embedded in Barnsley – helping them bring local partners and organisations together to create more opportunities to be active, as well as investing in community health and leisure facilities here.  Cycling can be anything a person wants it to be – a sociable and enjoyable activity, a way of getting and keeping fit, and a great form of transport. 

“The Barnsley Bike Works is at the heart of this community and will help more people to move more, live well and feel better.”

For more information about the the Bike Works visit https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/whats-your-move/find-your-move/cycling/barnsley-bike-works/