Small changes making a big difference at Mareel
Mareel is a busy social and cultural hub in Lerwick used by staff, volunteers, artists, audiences and members of the public. Many people travel to the venue by car, partly because of the geography and distances of Shetland and partly due to bus schedules not always aligning with finishing times of performances.
The Cycle Access Fund offered an opportunity to reduce barriers to cycling and support cycle parking and provide workplace cycling. The funding provided two complementary elements: a shared cargo ebike for practical journeys and a bike shelter with parking and ebike charging facilities. Tim Matthew, Mareel’s Production Manager, saw Cycle Access Fund as an opportunity to meet travel needs of employees and the general public.
Because we are a social hub for the community, I see it a bit as our civic duty to provide a place where people can leave and charge bikes. This encourages bike use and non-car use which is something we are committed to. So this was definitely a deciding factor for applying.
A lot of people have to travel by car and because we finish late, it means that quite often the buses don’t connect with people’s going home times. So encouraging people who might be within e-bike transport distance to Mareel makes sense for providing shelter and charging points.
We are part of a paint recycling programme where people can drop off part used tins of paint at various points in Lerwick. We then process them and dispose of what is not usable. The drop off points are the waste management centre and Mareel with processing at the Garrison Theatre before resale at Mareel. Transport between these and Mareel made sense. The bike was designed to be adapted to carry things like paint tins. Tim Matthew
Getting to grips with the ebike
Previously these journeys relied on a ‘diesel hungry’ pickup truck or the staff’s own vehicles. This created unnecessary vehicle use for short journeys and practical issues for staff using personal vehicles for work-related journeys. The lightweight three-wheel design of the cargoe bike makes it ideal with Shetland winds and is more manageable for staff.
Cycling UK’s local Connecting Communities Development Officer was on hand to help with initial training and confidence building for staff and volunteers in using the ebike.
During the summer months, the Mareel marketing department will use the bike for flyering and to set up a mobile information point for when cruise ships come into Lerwick harbour. This will increase the visibility and engagement for using a ebike in the town. In the long run it will save money for Mareel and for those using private vehicles for work, thus helping to reduce pollution levels in Lerwick.
One of the side benefits of using the cargo bike is that it actually brings a fair amount of joy. It’s fun going out with the bike and the benefits to wellbeing when making these short journeys. Not having to start an engine of a vehicle but simply hauling it out of its storage room and just cycle. Tim Matthew
A secure, visible and convenient bike shelter
The bike shelter proved very popular from the first day it was available and is already being used by staff, volunteers and visitors to Mareel both to park their bikes and charge ebikes. This secure, visible and convenient shelter will encourage more people to cycle for short journeys to and from Mareel. Longer term, Tim sees it as the first step to supporting staff who live within cycling distance to the centre to make those short journeys by bike. It also builds the potential for developing a shared bike scheme for staff and volunteers.
The combination of the cargo bike and bike shelter addresses practical, health and behaviour change barriers. The cargo bike offers an immediate solution for replacing short vehicle trips while the shelter provides support for those wanting to cycle. Both increase the sense of wellbeing and strengthens Mareel’s role as a community hub and demonstrates how active travel can work (and be fun) on Shetland.
The Cycle Access Fund receives funding from a Scottish Government People and Place grant, administered and supported in the Shetland Islands by ZetTrans.
