Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has announced an £800,000 funding package and interactive web portal to help businesses and employers embed sustainable travel behaviours.
The new funding package is made up of two pots:
- a £250,000 pot for SMEs with fewer than 250 staff for interventions such as cycle parking, pool bikes and changing or storage solutions, up to £10,000 per application
- a £550,000 pot to help provide cycle parking for small businesses/organisations, NHS, Housing Associations and schools located within 400 metres of eligible Bee Network cycling and walking schemes being delivered in 2021.
A cyclist crossing the lifting bridge at Salford Quays
There is also a new interactive online portal providing 'a wide range of advice and resources, including a live chat function, to support business and employers in travel planning and options for encouraging and embedding sustainable transport'.
Full details about how to apply for the grants are available in the portal, which also gives options in support of flexible working practices, taking the pressure off the traditional peak times.
Elise Wilson, leader of Stockport Council and Greater Manchester economy and business lead, said: 'Congestion cost business in Greater Manchester £1.3bn before the pandemic and we really want to head off a car-led recovery and a return to that situation.
'To do that we need to embed smarter ways of commuting that not only cut congestion and reduce cost to business, but have tangible health, wellbeing and productivity benefits.
'This is a great opportunity and I’d encourage people to visit the interactive portal and find out more about the available funding and what you can be doing for your staff, suppliers and customers.'
TfGM said it is also launching a bike hire scheme in November and delivering 100km of cycling and walking routes and 95 electric vehicle charging points by end of the year, with a further 200 by end of 2022.
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