Olympian opens new facilities for cyclists at Watford Hospital

Three-time Olympic medallist and double track World Cycling champion Rob Hayles today (Thursday, February 6) unveiled new specially made cycling facilities at Watford Hospital.   The hospital now boasts a unique, custom built combined shower and changing unit, located next to brand new secure bike storage pods, a bike repair stand and tyre pump.   The project forms parts of the Trust’s commitment to sustainability, encouraging patients, visitors, doctors, nurses, midwives and other staff to cycle to the hospital.   The new facilities were funded through a £31,000 grant from Hertfordshire County Council and £5,000 from public donations to the Trust’s charitable fund.   The grant has come from Hertfordshire County Council’s BigHertsBigIdeas scheme and is awarded through its Local Sustainable Transport Fund.  Watford Cycle Hub have provided advice and support for the project.   Speaking at the launch, Rob Hayles said: “The cycle hub at Watford Hospital is an excellent resource for cyclists.  I’m passionate about cycling, professionally and personally, and if the introduction of these facilities encourages more people to leave their cars at home and take up cycling, that’s excellent news for everyone.”   Samantha Jones, Trust Chief Executive said: “I was delighted to welcome Rob to Watford Hospital to officially unveil our new cycle facilities.   “I’d like to thank Rob for joining us and to everyone involved with this project.  As part of our efforts to deliver more sustainable services and facilities, we want to make cycling as desirable and easy for our doctors, nurses and support staff, as well as patients and visitors, as possible.  The new cycle hub is absolutely key to this.”   The size of two car parking spaces, and clad in sustainable cedar wood, the shower and changing unit is a permanent modular building specifically designed by Clearspace Buildings for the hospital.   Cycle pods Ltd supplied colourful new cycling pods, made out of recycled materials, which provide secure storage for 36 bikes, doubling the number that could previously be accommodated.   Watford Police Community Support Officers, who now have a base in the hospital, were at the event offering security marking for bikes.   Watford Cycle Hub is a community venture which provides advice and support, a training centre, a resource for planning cycle routes, a workshop and a sales space for recycled and reconditioned bikes at affordable prices.   New secure bike storage has also been installed at both St Albans and Hemel Hempstead hospitals.   For more information about our hospitals, visit www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk.  You can also join our 2,100 followers on Twitter (twitter.com/westhertsNHS) or find us on Facebook (facebook.com/westhertsNHS).