Pedal power helps York hotel reduce its carbon impact
Greenwise Staff
11th February 2011
A hotel in York that caters for conferences has seen a three-fold increase in the number of delegates arriving at the venue by bicycle in the last year.
York’s
Best Western Monkbar Hotel, which has been awarded for its environmental best practice, has seen such a rapid growth in the number of people using
bicycles that it has had to install a new purpose-built bike rack – constructed from recycled materials.
"Over the last year, we have seen a 30 per cent rise in the number of delegates and visitors arriving at the hotel on bicycles," said Monkbar Hotel director June Nelsey.
"On many occasions the bike racks we had just weren’t enough. In order to cater for our guests’ needs, we have made another from an redundant table stacker adding a further six secure bicycle slots which are undercover."
Award recognition
The hotel has won a Green Tourism Silver award for its continuing efforts to improve its environmental performance and to work with the local community. The hotel has an environmental policy and recycles glass, cardboard and tin, uses energy saving bulbs and recycled paper, and sources its restaurant
food locally.
Green initiativesThe new bicycle rack is one of a number of new green initiatives that have been undertaken by the hotel. These include the creation of a herb garden, entering into a formal partnership with a nearby cycle shop to provide guests with bicycles during their stay, and devising a selection of dog-friendly city walks.
Nelsey said the rise in cyclists using the hotel was in line with York City Council’s aims to increase cycling among residents and visitors.
"York is well-known for being a cycling city, and York City Council has gone to great lengths to promote cycling to both residents and visitors alike," she said.
Last month, the Government announced a £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund to encourage more cycling and partnerships between local authorities and the private sector on green travel projects.
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