More than 1,000 cyclists registered as Harpur Square bike shelter gets seasonal spruce-up

Harpur Square Cycle Shelter Image Bedford Borough Council
Image: Bedford Borough Council

Cyclists heading into Bedford town centre will soon see improvements at the Harpur Square cycle shelter, with a seasonal refresh underway to keep the facility clean, secure and welcoming.

The council’s street cleansing team is carrying out a deep clean, with window cleaning also planned. A new information poster has been placed on the door to help raise awareness of how Bedfordians can register to use the shelter.

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Safe and convenient

The shelter, located on Horne Lane, was originally funded through the Government’s £1 million Town Deal Accelerator Fund and is now managed by Bedford Borough Council’s Passenger Transport and Sustainable Travel Team.

More than 1,000 cyclists have already registered to use the secure facility, which has become a popular choice for people cycling into town.

Read: New Public Space Protection Order tackles antisocial behaviour but ‘safe’ cycling permitted

One user said: “It’s fantastic to have the shelter available when I cycle into town. It feels much more secure leaving my bike in there, and the registration process was really simple. I now just open the app, touch the screen, and the door unlocks.”

Another added, “When riding into town with my son, we love using the safe and secure shelter. It’s so easy to use and right in the town centre.”

New registration process

A new registration process has been introduced as part of the refresh. Cyclists can register by emailing the sustainable transport team via Sustainable.Transport@bedford.gov.uk with their full name, contact number and address.

Once approved, users will receive login details within seven working days, granting them access via the OneKey app for a more secure and convenient experience.

Councillor Nicola Gribble, (Independent, Renhold & Ravensden), Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: “This cycle shelter offers Bedford’s cyclists a safe, secure and weather-protected facility right in the heart of town.

This maintenance and refreshed registration system underlines our commitment to supporting sustainable travel. We encourage all cycle commuters heading into town to register and make the most of this great resource.”

The Harpur Square cycle shelter is at ///basis.libraries.keys on What3Words. Cyclists, visitors and residents are encouraged to use this free, eco-friendly facility when travelling into Bedford town centre.

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