Cycle hub at Brighton station taking shape

A new 'cycle hub', offering a range of services for cyclists, is taking shape at Brighton railway station.

Its steel frame is now visible and the facility is expected to be complete in the autumn.

Located at the back of the station, the three-storey building will provide shower and changing facilities, a bike shop, café, cycle repair outlet and bike hire, as well as storage for 500 bikes, making it the most comprehensive facility for cyclists in the city and one of the best in the region.

Approximately 170 spaces will also remain around the rest of the station resulting in a total of 670 spaces for bikes.

Cyclists will use a turnstile system at ground level accessed by a key card. Toilets, showers, changing rooms, bike hire and repair, bike shop and café with an outside terrace will be on the first floor, with further café space on the lower ground floor. Although the building will be three storeys, from the station concourse it will look like two storeys because of the steeply sloping site.

The cycle parking will be open 24 hours a day and the facility will be free at point of entry.

Another advantage of the scheme is the proposal to create an additional public space with landscaping.

The not-for-profit scheme is supported by the Department for Transport (£500,000), Southern Rail (£100,000), Network Rail (£200,000) and Brighton & Hove City Council (£100,000 through transport funding). Funding for the landscaped area is expected to come from the Brighton Station Gateway project.

The 2011 census showed that cycling to work in Brighton & Hove has more than doubled in the last 10 years (118% increase).

Data collected at various points around the city show on average an 11% rise in daily cycle journeys across the city from 2009 to 2012.

Councillor Ian Davey, lead councillor for transport, said: “It’s great to see it taking shape and already we can see what a substantial facility it will be.  It should really help encourage people to use bikes for those extra few miles to and from the station, whether for business or pleasure.”