New free trial makes it easier to visit the garden by train, supporting greener travel and reducing reliance on the car.
Visitors to RHS Garden Bridgewater can now enjoy a free and sustainable way to travel between Walkden railway station and the garden, thanks to a new bike-share scheme.
The new service aims to make it easier for visitors to choose public transport when planning a day out at the garden. While Walkden station is only 2.5 miles from RHS Bridgewater, getting from the station to the garden can be a challenge without a car. The cycle-share scheme helps bridge that final part of the journey, providing a simple, convenient and free connection between train and garden.
The bikes can be unlocked using a mobile phone at Walkden station and returned to a docking station at RHS Bridgewater, with the service free to use in both directions. The journey takes less than 20 minutes by bike, with more than half of the route travelling off-road through Parr Fold Park and along the RHS Greenway.
In keeping with RHS Bridgewater’s commitment to sustainability, every bike in the scheme has been refurbished rather than bought new, giving existing bicycles a second life and reducing waste. The project combines low-carbon travel with circular economy principles, helping visitors make more environmentally friendly choices when visiting the garden.
Visitors who travel without a car can also receive the RHS’s existing 30% discount on car-free garden admission, while Salford residents continue to benefit from free entry every Tuesday.
The cycle-share scheme has been delivered in partnership with Manchester Bikes, which refurbished and maintains the fleet, alongside smart docking technology provider Mosa Innovations. Independent evaluation is being carried out by shared transport charity CoMoUK. The project is one of just 12 initiatives selected for support through Active Travel England’s Innovation Fund.
As well as improving access to RHS Garden Bridgewater, the project aims to demonstrate how attractions across the UK can encourage more sustainable travel by making it easier for visitors to complete the journey from public transport hubs. If successful, the scheme could offer a model for gardens, parks, heritage sites and other visitor destinations looking to reduce car dependency.
Chris Trolley, Sustainability Advisor at RHS Bridgewater, said: “We’re delighted to be part of a project that makes it easier and more enjoyable for people to visit the gardens while encouraging more sustainable travel choices. Using refurbished bikes reflects our commitment to reducing waste, making the most of existing resources, and supporting greener journeys, while helping more people enjoy everything the gardens have to offer.”
Richard Armitage of Manchester Bikes said: “We’re proud to be working with RHS Bridgewater on a scheme that benefits both the local community and visitors to the garden. Refurbishing the bikes ourselves has allowed us to give quality bicycles a second life while creating a service that makes cycling a realistic option for many more people.”
Josh Liu, Founder of Mosa Innovations, said: “We’re delighted to support RHS Bridgewater in making sustainable travel easier for visitors. By combining refurbished bikes with community delivery and simple smart-dock technology, this project shows how attractions across the UK can overcome the last-mile challenge and encourage more people to choose public transport.”
More information: RHS Bridgewater bike share trial
