Free Bike Parking
When Coldplay brought their Music of the Spheres tour to Hull’s Sewell Group Craven Park, thousands of fans arrived in East Hull for one of the city’s biggest gigs in years. Among them was a growing group who chose a different way to travel: by bike.
Thanks to a partnership between Hull City Council and R-evolution, up to 250 spaces of free, secure cycle parking were provided each night at Soccer Sensations, right next door to the stadium. Supported by volunteers, the initiative offered a simple but powerful alternative to cars and taxis — and the response from fans was remarkable.
A Community-Led Solution
Throughout both nights, volunteers welcomed riders, parked bikes securely, and fitted free lights to the first arrivals as part of the council’s Bike Lights for Dark Nights campaign.
Many gig-goers stopped to say how grateful they were. One scaffolder summed it up with a smile: “I’ve done this job for 20 years and I’d never have thought about turning it into bike racks.”
Others pointed out how vital this kind of facility could be at every large event. As one fan put it, “Why isn’t this always an option? It makes so much sense.”
Stories From the Saddle
It wasn’t just about convenience — the stories revealed the wider impact of active travel:
One man dusted off his bike for the first time in 12 years to ride across Hull. He was amazed at how quick and easy it was on cycle paths, and left saying he now plans to commute by bike — at least when the weather holds.
BBC Radio Humberside presenter Kofi Smiles borrowed a loan bike to get to the concert, showing first-hand how practical cycling can be in Hull.
Fans from Holland, France, and Germany cycled to the ground after crossing on the ferry and staying at a backpackers’ hostel — demonstrating how visitors, too, can embrace sustainable travel when the infrastructure is there.
Why It Matters
For R-evolution and Hull City Council, this initiative was about more than parking bikes. It was about making active travel visible and normal at a major international event. Each person who chose to cycle instead of drive reduced congestion, cut emissions, and discovered the ease of travelling on two wheels.
Perhaps most importantly, the project sparked conversations about how Hull — and the UK more widely — can make cycling a standard part of the experience for concerts, festivals, and sporting events.
Looking Ahead
The feedback from gig-goers was clear: there is demand for secure cycle parking at large events, and the appetite to travel more sustainably is growing.
As Coldplay’s global tour champions sustainability, Hull has shown how local action can match that vision. With the support of volunteers, simple initiatives like this can change behaviours, inspire confidence, and leave a legacy well beyond the encore.
R-evolution would like to thank Hull City Council, the volunteers who made the service possible, and every rider who put their trust in us. Together, we proved that cycling isn’t just for commuting — it’s for concerts, celebrations, and the moments that bring a city together.
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