Context

26 M-Hoop cycle stands from Cyclepods have been installed at 11 different locations across Deal & Walmer as part of the town council’s 'Cycle Friendly Deal' project, with funding from the Government’s Coastal Community Fund.

In 2019 Deal Town Council undertook a review of all the cycle parking in the area and asked cyclists where they needed more cycle stands. This gave an accurate picture of the location and capacity for cycle parking and where people required more parking.

The Town Council then worked with officers from Dover District Council and Kent County Council, effectively the landowners, to create a final list of all the new locations. New cycle stands were subsequently installed from Sandown Castle in North Deal through to The Strand in the neighbouring parish of Walmer.

Product supplied

The style of cycle stand chosen was carefully selected. The M-Hoop cycle stand promotes secure locking, helps keep bikes upright, enables a wider range of bicycle styles to be locked securely and are coated to protect against the weather and avoid scratches to the frames.

The cycle stands were supplied by Kent-based Cyclepods and installed by a local Kent Highways contractor.

Testimonials

“It is good to know that Deal is even better placed now to welcome cyclists to the town”, said Cllr Sue Beer, lead Councillor on the project. “Cycling visitors spend money in the town without having a damaging effect on the environment. If more local people choose to leave their cars at home and cycle – parking in our new stands – that will be even better.”

“The Cycle Friendly Deal project is working to make our town attractive for family and occasional cyclists as well as serious cyclists”, said Eileen Rowbotham, Mayor of Deal. “These new visitors will make a very welcome contribution to our local tourism and hospitality industry.”

“When the Cycle Friendly Deal project was set up we counted 202 cycle parking spaces”, said council officer Adrian Oliver. “But there were still not enough for peak periods and some of them were not in the places where people wanted to park. Hence this new set of stands providing an additional 52 parking spaces, with the best design stand, now in the best places.”