Grand Arcade Cycle Park

This article was published in 2008, in Newsletter 78.

Cycle parking logo

The Grand Arcade Cycle Park is an excellent new facility on Corn Exchange Street, built to provide cycle parking for around 500 cycles, and is a new concept for shops in Cambridge. There is also a cycle shop, run by Station Cycles.

Station Cycles at the Grand Arcade
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What is the Grand Arcade Cycle Park?

It is Britain’s biggest free indoor city centre cycle park. It provides space for around 500 cycles, though more than half are paid-for valet parking spaces. It opened in March 2008.

Briefly, what are the benefits?

The entrance to the cycle park is nearly opposite the side of the Corn Exchange building in Corn Exchange Street, on the right where the cyclist is in this photograph. The entrance/exit on foot is just inside the arcade at Fisher Square or turn immediately right when coming from Lion Yard.
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  • Over 200 free cycle parking spaces
  • Located close to the centre of Cambridge City
  • Direct access to the Grand Arcade via the lift (floor -1) or stairs
  • Easy to use cycle racks suitable for securing a wide range of cycle types, including trailers
  • A cycle shop
  • Valet cycle parking for over 200 cycles
  • Mural art (not yet implemented)
  • Lockers for helmets, etc. (not yet open)
  • Showers for changing (not yet open)
  • CCTV coverage

I can’t find it – where is it?

As there are still many bikes left in St Andrew’s Street where there are few stands, we assume that many people simply haven’t realised the cycle park exists or that is now open.

It is tucked away on Corn Exchange Street. From Downing Street, cycle into Corn Exchange Street, and go past (but not into) the car park entrance. You will see it on the right, with a small entranceway and sign.

Take care when using the contraflow back to Downing Street, as cars emerging could form a hazard.

What are the opening hours?

Grand Arcade Cycle Park on its first day
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At present it closes at 11pm at night, meaning that arrival in the afternoon and staying in the city centre late into the night is not possible. We are campaigning for 24-hour access, like the car park.

What about valet cycle parking?

Valet cyle parking provides extra security and the ability to leave belongs with one’s bicycle. It is being offered for a modest charge and Cambridge Cycling Campaign members can get 10% off. We understand that John Lewis and other shops plan to offer free/subsidised valet parking for their employees. We would strongly welcome this and believe it will boost take-up and awareness of this new resource.

At last John Lewis customers and staff have somewhere to park their bikes, even though it is not very obvious.
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