Cycling at Strathclyde
Cycling can help you stay healthy, improve your well-being, and make your commute cheaper!
As part of our commitment to more sustainable travel, we have worked to improve the facilities available to cyclists and have been recognised as a Cycle Friendly Campus by Cycling Scotland.
This page has everything you need to know about cycling to the University whether you’re a regular or just getting started.
For more information about cycling in the city and exciting events, visit Aye Cycle: the online hub for all things cycling in and around the city of Glasgow.
Storing my bike
Cycle hubs
The most secure place on campus to store your bike is in one of our TWO cycle hubs, located in the Curran (Library) and Royal College building. These provide secure internal cycle parking, lockers, and some tools for routine maintenance.
For access please email Staff Cards to be issued with swipe access to the specified hub.
Please note that the Cycle Hubs are accessible at varying times due to business hours of buildings as follows:
- Curran Hub: Monday to Friday 6:30am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm
- Cartway Hub: Monday to Friday 6:30am to 6pm, closed on Saturday and Sunday
- Cathedral Wing Hub: 24hr Access
Cycle parking
University Maps show up to date Cycle Parking facilities with detailed information on number and type of racks available. We also have cycle parking at our other research and sports facilities, and are installing more covered cycle spaces.
Locking your bike
More than 500,000 bikes are stolen in the UK each year because they’re poorly secured or not secured at all. Thin cable locks can be cut through in a matter of seconds so we recommend always using a solid D-Lock to reduce the chance of theft. The best ones are certified “Sold Secure Gold”
Whether it's at home or away, the following guidance should help you keep your bike more secure:
Keep your bike secure - Police Scotland advice
How to prevent your bike from being stolen
School bike parking guide: how to lock a bike properly
Getting a bike
Short Journey? – Hire a Nextbike
Did you know all Strathclyde students and staff are eligible for 50% discount off Next Bike memberships? Why not take advantage of the cycle hire stations located on our campus, and ride for free.
Go to the Next Bike website and complete the following steps:
- Register with your university email address and select Strathclyde from the 'Partner' dropdown.
- Select the 'Annual Subscription (£60)' option, discount is applied when you continue - so only £30 per year!
- Continue and click the link in the activation email to verify your account.
- Login using the details provided and enter payment details to settle your account and activate.
On a budget? – Go second hand
Bike for Good are a local bike charity located in the West End and South of Glasgow. They receive donated second hand bikes, refurbish them and sell them on at affordable prices! They also provide various services including maintenance classes, pool bikes, and cycling training to build your confidence on the roads.
Buying new? – Cycle to Work Scheme
The University of Strathclyde is committed to the health and wellbeing of its employees and to a sustainable Glasgow. The Cycle to Work Scheme aims to address both these issues by promoting healthier journeys to and from work while contributing to a reduction in environmental pollution.
The Cycle to Work Scheme is a tax exempt Salary Sacrifice scheme which allows all eligible University employees to hire cycles and cycle safety equipment on a tax free basis. The tax exemption relates to the tax charge which would otherwise apply to cycles and cycle equipment loaned to employees. How the scheme is managed at the University together with the eligibility criteria is detailed on the Cycle to Work Scheme website.
Find out more about the scheme: Cyclescheme Employee Webinar on Vimeo (published July 2020)
Cycle safely
Staying safe
The statistics surrounding road cyclists are enough to put many off the idea of cycling on the roads. The fact remains though, many cyclists travel daily without a problem and by learning a little road safety you can better enjoy your journey and be confident of keeping safe. For more information, visit the following links:
THINK! cyclist - government safety campaign
The University inspects cycle parking facilities on a regular basis for any suspicious activity, and also actively works on reducing the number of abandoned bikes on campus. For more information please see Abandoned Bike Policy .
Find the Right Route
CycleStreets is a UK-wide cycle journey planner, which lets you plan routes from A to B by bike. It is designed by cyclists, for cyclists, and caters for the needs of both confident and less confident cyclists.
Plug in your start and finish postcode and get a personalised and informed cycle plan on the Cycle Streets website.
Other Facilities
Showers and changing
Please see the List of campus shower facilities to find your nearest facilities. We are working on providing more facilities to help encourage cycling and improve campus provision.
Staff expenses
Staff can claim business mileage rebates for cycling on business journeys, processed via FMS at a rate of 20p per mile. View the expenses policy for more information.
Community cycling group
Strathcycles is a Cycling UK affiliated community cycling club based in Glasgow city centre. Its aim is to empower Strathclyde University and City of Glasgow College staff and student communities to cycle. Join Strathclycles Facebook Group for updates and upcoming events.