North Down Alliance MLA Andrew Muir meets Translink about secure cycle storage at Bangor Station

Andrew Muir, the Alliance MLA for North Down, recently held a productive meeting with Translink to discuss the importance of providing secure cycle storage facilities.

During his visit to the Bangor Bus and Rail station, Andrew Muir engaged in constructive discussions with Translink officials, emphasising the need to improve opportunities for active travel through enhanced bike storage provisions.

Translink has already established impressive facilities across numerous stations; however, Andrew Muir believes that expanding these amenities would be warmly received by local residents who rely on public transportation. By offering better security measures for cyclists, more people in the community would feel encouraged to commute by bicycle to the bus and rail station in Bangor. This would not only promote active travel but also alleviate traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions.

“I am delighted to see the progress Translink is making in supporting active travel with secure storage already firmly in place in Holywood. At my meeting I outlined the need for a secure cycle storage facility in Bangor and was informed of plans being developed for a station refurbishment, into which this will hopefully be incorporated. I would urge Translink to progress these plans without delay and put the wheels in motion for secure cycle storage facilities at Bangor City Bus and Rail Hub,” said Andrew Muir MLA.

Continuing, Andrew Muir MLA stated “This will have numerous benefits for our community, including improved air quality, reduced traffic congestion, and enhanced overall well-being. This must however come alongside increased investment in safe cycling routes by the Department for Infrastructure, the standard of cycling infrastructure is woeful and needs to move up a number of gears without any more delay, the record to date has been pitiful. It’s time for DfI to release the brakes on Active Travel investment”

Furthermore, Andrew Muir expressed the need for better advertising of existing facilities, exemplified by the case of Holywood. Commenting, Andrew Muir remarked

“Despite the presence of a secure bike storage facility at Holywood Rail Station, many individuals remain unaware of how to access. To maximize their usage and encourage more people to adopt cycling, proper promotion is required especially on how to obtain the access fob, something I have also raised with Translink.”