Community hire bikes will be coming to Frome later this month following a £15,000 grant from Great Western Railway (GWR).
The funding has been awarded to Frome Town Council and will pay for on-street bikes and cargo bikes (designed to carry heavier loads), for community use, as well as new walking and cycling maps linking the railway station to the town centre.
The grant was awarded to help improve connectivity between Frome railway station and the town centre, with the aim of increasing footfall around the station and into the heart of the town.
The council has teamed up with Frome Community Bike Project to provide the bikes. The bikes are expected to arrive in late February and will be based on Station Approach.
A celebration event will be held to showcase the cycling support available in Frome, with opportunities for residents to find out how to hire and use the bikes.
Project spokesperson Emma Parker said, “We’re extremely grateful for this funding from Great Western Railway, which will promote walking and wheeling routes from the station to the town centre, encourage more people to use our train services and give people the opportunity to try out a cargo bike.”
GWR senior community impact manager Emma Morris said, “Our Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a superb programme that allows us to invest locally in projects that have a positive and meaningful impact for our customers and our communities.
“As we mark Railway 200, it’s also a chance to celebrate the lasting impact the railway has had over two centuries — connecting people, creating jobs, and supporting the growth and prosperity of the communities we serve.
“We’re delighted to support the cycling initiative, which will help provide greater and greener integrated travel choices for both the community of Frome and for those visiting the town.”
Frome Town Council successfully applied for the grant through GWR’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund, launched in January 2025 to support local communities and projects connected to the railway as it marks its 200th anniversary.
More information about the celebration event on 22nd March will be published soon.
