Metro has welcomed news that nine West Yorkshire rail stations are benefiting from new facilities for cyclists.

Bike-riders using Bingley, Bradford Interchange, Bradford Forster Square, Guiseley, Garforth, Halifax, Mirfield, Steeton & Silsden and Shipley stations will have the use of additional parking stands and shelters as well as CCTV and lighting to improve the security of the facilities.

Harrogate and Skipton stations in North Yorkshire will also benefit from the work made possible by a partnership between Northern Rail, Cycling England and the Department for Transport (DfT).

Metro Chairman Cllr Chris Greaves said, "This is very good news for cyclists who use our West Yorkshire rail network and follows on closely from the opening of the UK's first Cycle Point, developed by Metro, Northern Rail, Network Rail and the Department for Transport at Leeds station.

"These new facilities will encourage more people to cycle to and from their local station reducing the pressure on station car parks and traffic on local roads and I am glad that Metro has had the opportunity to work with Northern to make them possible."

The improvements are being made possible by a £1m award from Cycling England to Northern Rail that is providing new cycling facilities at over 100 rail stations on all the routes into Leeds. The work will be completed by June 2011

Northern Rail's Chief Operating Officer Steve Butcher said: "We are committed to making our stations as cycle friendly as possible and hope that the new and improved facilities at stations across Yorkshire and Leeds CyclePoint will encourage more people to start and finish their journey to and from our stations by bicycle."