Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative sets up shop in Manchester's new City Tower Cycle Hub

Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative, which currently operates six stores throughout Scotland and the North of England, has revealed that it is to operate the retail space in Manchester’s new Cycle Hub, which opens at City Tower next to Piccadilly Gardens when it opens on 12 November.

The social enterprise, which now trades in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield, says that it views the operation, which will also have a workshop and provide training, as a satellite of its existing Manchester shop in Rusholme rather than a separate store.

In line with that, the mechanics working from the facility will be the same as those staffing the Rusholme branch, but Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative says that the new space will also enable it to expand its offer beyond that traditionally provided by local bike shops, for example by holding cycle maintenance classes.

Developed as part of Transport for Greater Manchester’s Commuter Cycling Project, the Cycle Hub will include secure covered parking for up to 200 bicycles with shower and changing facilities. Annual membership is available, and access to the site is via a swipe card.

The part of the premises where Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative will operate what it terms “a cyclists’ convenience store” will be open to the public as well as those with Cycle Hub membership.

Steven Burke, Olympic gold medallist this summer in London in the team pursuit, was given a tour of the facility last week and said: “It was great to see the new hub facility at City Tower. It’s got everything you could ask for as a commuter, and hopefully it’ll encourage even more people in the city to ride their bikes to work.”