The Bee Network is offering free travel on Starling Bikes in areas affected by the Metrolink renewal works over the next few weeks.
Work to replace around 1.6km of track at Trafford Bar and Deansgate-Castlefield – parts of which are more than 30 years old – started on Monday, 13 July and will continue until Sunday, 2 August. Work will be carried out on part of the Eccles line at the same time.
During this period, no trams will run on the Altrincham, Trafford Centre and Eccles lines, including to and from MediaCity, while the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport lines will terminate at Firswood with replacement buses calling at affected stops.
Passengers are encouraged to use the journey planner on the Bee Network app or website to plan their journeys in advance and consider all the potential alternatives to getting around, including regular Bee Network buses, the train or cycling and walking.
To help people get around, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is offering anyone picking up or dropping off a Starling Bike in Firswood, Chorlton and Salford Quays up to 20 free minutes off their rides – 10 minutes each way for an inbound and outbound journey – every day.
The offer is available on Starling Bikes, Greater Manchester’s publicly operated, self-service, 24/7 bike hire scheme. A mixture of pedal and electric bikes, it offers an affordable, convenient and quick way to get around parts of central Manchester, Trafford and Salford.
And new active travel infrastructure, including protected cycle lanes and junctions, is available to use in Stretford and Chorlton, as well as parts of Salford.
Danny Vaughan, Chief Network Officer at Transport for Greater Manchester, said:
“We know that this vitally important work on the Metrolink will have a big impact on passengers and we apologise for the disruption. We’re encouraging everyone to plan ahead by using the journey planner on the Bee Network app or website.
“We’ve got regular Bee Network buses that you can hop on for just £2 using Tap and Go as well as our replacement buses. We’d also like to encourage people to try walking, cycling and wheeling for part of their journey where possible.
“That’s why we’re offering up to 20 minutes of free travel on Starling Bikes every day, from and to stops in areas affected by the Metrolink works. We also offer accessible alternatives to the tram, with all our Bee Network buses meeting accessibility standards while older and disabled people can use Ring and Ride.
“There’s never a good time to close parts of the network, but while services are suspended during the warmer summer months, why not give active travel a go?”
