Cheshire West and Chester Council has introduced cycle patrols for parking enforcement across Chester, extending coverage beyond the city centre while reducing van use and cutting carbon emissions.
Three Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) volunteered to pilot the scheme, which launched in January 2026. The council partnered with BikeRight to deliver cycle proficiency training, ensuring officers were confident navigating busy traffic and operating around larger vehicles.
A bespoke high-visibility uniform in yellow and orange with clear CEO branding was developed to keep officers identifiable in the field. Officers now split their time between cycle and foot patrols, with cycles used primarily for outer beats, neighbourhoods and connecting routes where vehicle use had previously been necessary as the service expanded beyond the city centre.
Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, Cllr Karen Shore, said the initiative was about finding ‘a smarter, greener way to support compliance’, adding that it had reduced reliance on vans while helping officers work more flexibly.
Officers have reported that cycling has transformed how they work, allowing them to cover more ground, respond more quickly, and engage more positively with the public.
The scheme supports the council’s wider active travel ambitions.
Photo: © Bjoern Wylezich / Shutterstock.com.
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