Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, at the Council meeting on 2nd November, the following motion on Secured Serviced City Centre Civic Bicycle Parking Facilities had been proposed by Councillor Smyth and seconded by Councillor McKeown:

“The coronavirus pandemic has forced us all to rethink how we live our lives. However, as we seek to build back better, it is essential that we do this in a safe, sustainable way.

Supporting cycling infrastructure in Belfast is key to this, enabling people to get around our city in a way which is good for health and good for the environment.

However, given the regular theft of bicycles in the city centre, it is important that we take steps to provide facilities to enable people to feel secure when they travel there by bicycle.

Therefore, the Council agrees to the creation of secured, serviced city centre civic bicycle parking facilities, and will reallocate car parking space or other appropriate property in the city centre for this purpose, and work with partners to enable this to happen.”

            In accordance with Standing Order 13(f), the motion had been referred without discussion to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

            Councillor Smyth informed the Committee that the increasing number of bicycle thefts in the City centre, as had been confirmed recently by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, had highlighted the need for secure facilities to be provided for cyclists in that area and had given rise to his motion.

            He pointed out that the significant growth in cycling, together with the likely increase in the number of e-bikes over the coming years, reinforced this need and he suggested that a vacant retail unit or units within the City centre be used for that purpose. He, therefore, urged the Committee to adopt his motion and, in so doing, agree that Council officers work with the Belfast Community Safety Partnership, the Belfast Chamber of Commerce, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Sustrans and other stakeholders to produce, within a three-month timescale, a report on the feasibility of putting in place, preferably by the spring of 2021, a secure facility for bicycle storage in the City centre.

            In response to a request from a Member, Councillor Smyth agreed to amend his motion to provide for the inclusion of e-bikes and e-scooters.

            During discussion, clarification was sought on current bicycle storage provision in the City centre and the need for improved cycling infrastructure in the west of the City and to extend the Belfast Bikes scheme into that area was highlighted. The point was made that storage facilities should be covered and that the use of Section 76 Developers’ contributions and the acquisition of funding from other sources should be explored.

            In response, the Strategic Director of Place and Economy pointed out that the Council had, as part of its response to Covid-19, secured funding from the Department for Infrastructure to increase bicycle storage facilities across the City and that a number of potential sites were being assessed. It was hoped that these would be capable of storing between ten and twenty bicycles. He pointed out that a review of the Belfast Bikes Scheme, which had been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, would seek to address the issues which had been raised in relation to the west of the City and would also consider other areas. 

            The Committee adopted the motion, as amended, and agreed to the submission of a report, in line with that which had been requested by Councillor Smyth, and incorporating those additional points which had been raised.