Newport Cycle Hub is celebrating a record-breaking year, with facility usage and cycle journeys all reaching new heights. As more people than ever choose to swap four wheels for two, the Hub has become an essential part of Newport’s sustainable transport network - and provides evidence that investing in sustainable transport infrastructure really does lead to behaviour change.
Cycling on the Rise in Newport
2024 saw a surge in demand for secure cycle parking in Newport's city centre. Total accesses to the Hub soared to 12,673 – a significant jump from 5,362 in 2023 – helping generate just under an estimated 13,000 cycle journeys. This means more people are choosing active travel, reducing car dependency, and contributing to a greener, healthier Newport.
Newport’s Cycle Community Speaks
Feedback from the annual user survey has been overwhelmingly positive, with 83% of users saying they now cycle into the city more often. Key highlights from the survey include:
55% of users stated they would have used a car if the cycle parking facility was not available, demonstrating the Hub’s role in reducing vehicle congestion and emissions.
79% of journeys are under 5 miles, proving the Hub is helping to replace short car trips with cycling.
Over 10,000 miles were cycled by members to & from the Hub in 2024 – a huge boost for sustainable transport in Newport.
49% of users ride either an eBike or an eCargo bike, reflecting how the Hub is providing a secure place to park for people just trying to get from A to B.
Supporting Cycle Parking with our Efficient Booking Platform
To improve our users experience, we introduced a new ‘Check Out’ feature in June 2024. This allows cyclists to free up spaces as soon as they finish using them, ensuring more riders can benefit from the Hub’s facilities and ultimately making more efficient use out of our limited space.
Cycling for all
38% of users are now women (up from 17% in 2023), marking a positive step towards making cycling more inclusive. Indeed, anecdotally, we have heard from members on site that having a secure plan to park - and one from which they see both into, and out from, - is a huge plus for female users and makes them feel safer when in the city centre.
Boosting the local economy and community
We’re playing our part in helping to increase the footfall in Newport city centre, with more cyclists using the cycle hub for leisure activities and shopping (up to 52% of all journeys to the facility). This matches up to previous research, which shows that people who & cycle into town are more likely to spend their cash in local shops than those driving through.
But there's more to a cycle hub than just economic benefits. We’re proud of our cyclists building a genuine community - helping each other repair bikes, looking out for one another’s vehicle and making the facility a welcoming place for all.
Join in!
Newport Cycle Hub’s success proves that when secure cycle parking is available, more people choose to travel by bike. And as word of mouth of the facility spreads even further, we're excited for 2025 to break even more records.
For more information about Newport Cycle Hub or to sign up for a membership, download the Spokesafe app now.
The full report is available at: https://www.spokesafe.com/blog/newport-cycle-hub-2024-behaviour-change-report