BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Bike retailer Cycle Heaven has opened a cycle shop within York Railway Station, a reported first within a mainline station.
The new store offers cycle sales, repairs and hire to the hundreds that pass through the station every day.
“We’re thrilled to be at York Railway Station,” enthused Cycle Heaven founder and director Andy Shrimpton.
“It’s been an instructive and somewhat challenging experience as a small independent retailer moving into an environment largely populated by large corporate businesses, but we stuck at it and we think we’ve created a unique and beautiful space in a formerly moribund part of the station.
“In business terms, it’s a great strategic fit, but as I’ve always been a railway, as much as a bicycle romantic, there’s an emotional connection there too. We’re delighted to be joining the railway community and have been made very welcome.”
Station operator East Coast and City of York Council are keen to encourage people to bike to York station. Transport planners are reportedly taking ‘multi modality’ into account – where travel patterns shift from car dependence to more diverse methods of getting around.
In addition, East Coast is to roll out improvements to cycle facilities in the station later this month, including new access routes to be opened at the north and south ends of the station.
East Coast property and projects director Tim Hedley-Jones added: “We are delighted to welcome Cycle Heaven to York station – we’re sure their facilities will be much in demand in York, which has many hundreds of keen cyclists.
“Many travellers use pedal power to reach York station, enjoying the convenience of free and secure cycle parking within the building. The sales, repair and hire service which Cycle Heaven now offer will complement the facilities already in place for cyclists, and the keenly-awaited access improvements which are just around the corner.”
