Commuters on track for UK's first Cyclepoint

It is hoped that the new cycling hub, due to open in May, will give rail passengers the option to continue their journey by bike and ease pressure on the city's roads.

It will provide secure, fully manned storage for over 300 bicycles, a maintenance and repairs service, bike and accessory sales, rental bikes and cycling information and demonstrations.

The project is based on a hugely successful Dutch concept. In the Netherlands, 39 per cent of all rail passengers arrive at their local station by bike and Cyclepoints are established at most major stations.

Northern Rail and Abellio are leading the project, in partnership with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Metro.

The use of cycles in Leeds city centre has doubled over the past decade and continues to increase. Plans are already in place to introduce radial cycling routes from the suburbs into the city centre by 2011.

Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said: "More and more people are turning to cycling as a healthy, green and convenient way to travel. I want to encourage this choice, which is why we're investing 14m to transform facilities for cyclists at train stations.

"Although half of us own a bike and 60 per cent live just 15 minutes from a station, only 2 per cent of train passengers travel to the station by bike. This is in contrast to Holland where cycling accounts for a third of all trips to and from the station.

"Leeds is leading the way with the first Cyclepoint in the UK, providing commuters with integrated cycle facilities and services, including rental and storage, at Leeds station. I've no doubt that this will significantly boost the number of people cycling to catch their train and I hope that other towns and cities across the UK will follow Leeds."

Helen Dawson, Leeds station manager, added, "Once complete, this will be a great addition to the station facilities which will benefit rail passengers and the wider city by encouraging more cycle use.

"We are working closely with all the partners to make sure that construction disruption is kept to a minimum."