From Sian Hester, Exeter 383523, October 07,2008

THE Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital is celebrating the opening of its brand new £30,000 cycle parking thanks to match funding from Devon County Council's Cycle Exeter project.

The hospital is the latest of 19 organisations in Exeter to benefit from funding from Cycle Exeter to provide better facilities for cyclists. Over the past two years, more than £200,000 has been spent by Devon County Council on installing new cycle parking.

The RDE now has two new secure bike compounds - one for 40 bikes and the other for 20 bikes, and some extra cycle stands for visitors. The covered compounds are conveniently situated outside main buildings and are electronically controlled via staff smart cards.

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "Devon County Council is happy to support organisations keen to promote cycling and we are particularly pleased to be able to help such a key employer as the hospital, which has demonstrated a strong commitment to cycling and other modes of green travel. Secure bike sheds are a vital requirement for any business trying to increase cycling among its staff and visitors and I'm sure these new parking areas will enable staff to use their bikes more."

Chairman of the Royal Devon Exeter NHS Foundation Trust Mrs Angela Ballatti said: "About 150 of our staff currently cycle to work and we expect this figure to increase with the provision of these secure parking facilities. Reducing traffic on our roads is a responsibility shared across the city and as a major employer we take seriously our contribution to the green travel plan for the area. We are delighted to have worked with Devon County Council on this latest initiative to encourage more people to use, where practical, alternatives to the car for their work commute. Staff at the Royal Devon Exeter hospital have also been signing up to a scheme recently launched by the Trust to purchase bicycles and cycling equipment tax-free."

The current round of Devon County Council funding has seen eight organisations provided with new cycle parking, including health centres (Exwick Health Centre St. Thomas Medical Centre), schools (Ladysmith Junior School, Stoke Hill Junior School, the Chestnut Children's Centre and The Grenville Centre), workplaces (RDE Hospital and the University of Exeter St. Luke's campus) and even St James' Church. Any organisation in the city can apply for match funding for cycling facilities from the Cycle Exeter project.

The new cycle parking facilities at the RDE were jointly paid for by Devon County Council's Cycle Exeter project and the Optimum2 project - a European project that has a primary aim to improve the accessibility of busy locations in urban areas. As a leading partner in the Optimum2 project, the hospital has implemented a whole range of changes with the sole aim of improving access and promoting sustainable travel to its site.

The hospital has also just launched Cyclescheme - the salary sacrifice scheme allowing staff to get a new bike through their employer - giving staff an affordable alternative to the car.

Devon County Council's Cycle Exeter project is working towards making Exeter a cycle friendly city. The past two years of the project has seen vast improvements in the city, including the construction of new cycle lanes, investment in adult and child cycle training, and support for schools and businesses. This has resulted in a 25% increase in cycling across the city.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Reporters are invited to the cycle parking launch on Thursday October 9^th at 10.15am at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford Site) Please meet outside the Centre for Women's health.

There will be an opportunity to take pictures and talk to Councillor Rogers and the Chairman of RDE, Angela Ballatti.

4% of staff and volunteers travelled by bike to the hospital in 2004. This had risen to 6.1% in 2007. The percentage of people driving is also showing a 'greener' trend with 53% in 2004, going down to 40.8% 3 years later according to 2007 figures. The Park and Ride scheme again reflects a positive change in visitor's travelling habits. 7% of staff used this system in 2004. This had risen to 10.1% by 2007. 49% of staff live within 5 miles of the hospital