Published on Friday 24 February 2023
Key stakeholders celebrating the opening of The Dolphin Cycle Hub with representatives from BCP Council, Legal and General and The Dolphin
The Dolphin in Poole and BCP Council have announced that Dorset’s first secure public cycle storage facility officially opens on Monday, February 27.
To celebrate the opening, members of the public are invited to attend the official launch event, taking place on Monday, February 27 in the cycle hub, located by the Primark entrance to The Dolphin. The public can drop in between 10am to 2pm to view the facility and ask any questions.
The Dorset Police Neighbourhood Team will also be on site to provide free bike tagging for attendees, which is a highly effective track and trace solution, to enhance security for bike owners. The Dolphin’s retailer, Cycle Paths, will also be in attendance to offer free bike safety checks and carry out any minor repairs or adjustments on the day.
Matt Banks, owner at Cycle Paths, said:
"The new Dolphin Cycle Hub is a great idea and I think it will be very well received by locals. Having a secure place to store your bike will give cyclists more reassurance when travelling into the town centre.
"I’m looking forward to the launch where we’ll be offering free 20-minute repair consultation slots and will provide a report for any further work that is recommended for our team to undertake at Cycle Paths, our shop on Falkland Square, just a short walk from the hub."
The Dolphin Cycle Hub uses an innovative cycle parking model provided by Spokesafe and includes secure parking for up to 34 bikes, cargo bikes and non-standard cycles. The hub offers 24-hour access for members and affordable storage options start from as little as £1 per day for Pay As You Go bookings. There are also various weekly and monthly membership packages available* for those looking for regular secure storage solutions.
The facility has been funded by BCP Council’s Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund. Its programme, ‘Transforming Travel’, aims to create and promote greener, healthier, better-connected travel options across the county, particularly for shorter journeys.
Greg Westover, Fund Head of Retail and Leisure at Legal & General, said:
"The Dolphin Cycle Hub is part of our wider strategy to offer the people of Poole with an accessible, sustainable, and community-focused centre that is suitable for everyone and their needs. The launch of our cycle hub is not only part of these plans, it also adds to the wider conversation that is happening locally surrounding our mental health and wellbeing, by encouraging a more active and environmentally friendly lifestyle.
"We’ve worked closely with BCP Council and Spokesafe to open this state-of-the-art facility and we’re looking forward to seeing the benefits this will bring to the community, particularly as we head into spring."
Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets (the owners of The Dolphin), in partnership with BCP Council, identified a need for a secure public cycle storage hub within Poole to encourage people to cycle when visiting the town. The Dolphin was chosen as the ideal location for the brand-new facility due to its high footfall from local residents, shoppers, employees, and commuters who use both the bus and train station for onward travel.
Councillor Mike Greene, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for transport and sustainability, said:
"The Dolphin Cycle Hub is a fantastic facility, and a great example of partnership working to encourage more people to cycle by providing safe, easy bike storage.
"We are committed to helping to build more active communities where more people can choose cycling for shorter, everyday journeys. We hope that as many people as possible use this new facility and look forward to rolling out similar enterprises in the future."
The Dolphin Cycle Hub also offers a repair station and pump service, personal storage lockers, and electric charger points are also available for members to use while storing their e-bikes.
Please visit www.spokesafe.com/dolphin-cycle-hub to browse the available packages and to book a storage slot.
Follow The Dolphin on Instagram @thedolphinpoole and Facebook @dolphinshoppingcentre for further updates.