Bike racks, shaped as Penny Farthing bicycles, have been installed across Somerset East area (formerly Mendip District Council) as a legacy gift to residents.

A consultation for local residents asked where they would like bike racks installed and over 180 residents responded with their views.

A total of 26 racks have been fitted and the unique Penny Farthing design can lock up to four bicycles – that’s more than 100 bikes safe and secure.

Cllr Sarah Dyke, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for the Environment and Climate Change, said:

“These bike racks will encourage more active travel across the county and allow families and individuals to have safe places to lock up their bikes when cycling in Somerset.

“We hope this new facility persuades residents to leave their cars at home and make the most of our active travel routes to help keep our air clean.”

Mendip District Council applied for funding from former Somerset County Council’s Public Health Fund which has been used to pay for and install the bike racks.

The project supports Somerset Council’s greener, more sustainable Somerset initiative to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and to give a wider range of options for local journeys.

New multi-user paths have recently opened in East Somerset, including at the Shape Mendip Campus in Shepton Mallet, Dulcote, Westbury-Sub-Mendip, and at West Shepton Playing Fields to Pilton. Additionally, an extension to the newly built Dulcote section to Churchill Batch Lane is currently under construction. They all form part of the Strawberry Line and the vision of the Strawberry Line Society to link ‘Shepton to the Sea’ at Clevedon.

Learn about the Strawberry Line here: www.thestrawberryline.org.uk.