The Diocese of Manchester has a unique opportunity to play a vital role in Beelines, which is a radical plan by Chris Boardman and Transport for Greater Manchester to transform Greater Manchester into Britain's first 'cycling'city'.
As we continue to work towards becoming an Eco Diocese, a plan to revolutionise how people travel in our city has been unveiled and is gaining momentum.
Many of our churches within the boundary of Greater Manchester may soon find that they are on a 'Beeline': over 1000 miles of a fully joined up cycling and walking network.
As the work on improving the city's infrastructure gets underway, our churches can begin to make provisions for people on bikes - in ways both large and small.
As well as welcoming potential new members to their congregations, as cross-city travel becomes easier, healthier and safer, churches can also embrace opportunities to invite passing foot and bicycle traffic in through the church doors, as tourism and car-free activity increases.
These changes will of course help to enhance our churches' chances of being awarded eco church status by A Rocha. Welcoming cycling forms an important part of the Lifestyle and Buildings sections of the awards.
Churches on the Beelines map
Zoom into your church on our interactive map to see where you will sit on the Beelines network. The orange lines represent the beelines, the green lines represent the existing and proposed crossing routes, and the black pins mark our churches.
For more information about any of the churches, click on the black pin to visit its page on A Church Near You!
Sources: 1. Church of England Church Commissioners 2. Contains Transport for Greater Manchester data.
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2018.
"Churches are a fantastic hub that can bring people together; places where a lot of things can happen and be organised for the good of an entire community. By supporting cycling they can help people get around in a more ecologically friendly, healthy and pleasant way."
Chris Boardman - Greater Manchester Cycling and Walking Commissioner
How can our church get involved?
There are lots of ways you and your church can begin to welcome cycling. Here are just a few ideas:
- Cycle parking - these come in many shapes and sizes and grants are available to fund them!
- Hosting a cycle training or cycle safety course
- Running bike schemes for refugees or those out of work
- Forming a cycling club
- Getting children riding confidently, by providing them with a place to practise - cycling games for children
- Having tools and a cycle pump available in the church porch
- Putting a welcome notice outside and on the church website
- Holding a cycling cafe (otherwise known as your regular coffee morning!)
- Hosting a spin class in the church hall
- Entering sponsored rides for charity
- Displaying a map of local cycling routes
- Commenting on the Beelines plans on the interactive map, helping to improve cycle routes near you
- Building cycle tracks for families and young people in your church grounds - with a faculty of course!