Manchester Bike Hub is go!

So, the hotly anticipated Bike Hub cycle parking facility has received its official launch and it has now become clear how much cycling infrastructure you can get for half a million quid.
What you get is 200, bike spaces, lockers for some users, showers and an Edinburgh Bike Co-Op outlet.
The facility which is in the basement of City Tower in Piccadilly Gardens, will be open from 6am to 8pm and will cost users £100 or £200 per year for membership.
While I think that any investment in cycling facilities is a good thing and should be applauded, you do have to ask yourself if this will really encourage new people to take to the road and commute to town on their bikes.

Presumably the on-foot exit/entrance 

After all, this is what this facility is all about: getting more people to ride bikes to work.
Consultation was undertaken last year on this infrastructure which I remember responding to.  It was a classic case of consulting on a pre-agreed plan as what we've ended up with here is pretty much what was described by the questions of the consultation.
So: card access, mechanical advice on-site, showers and undercover spaces is what it's all about.
There may be a little bit of 'build it and they will come' about the Bike Hub but at least it is there and we can see if it does have an effect.  Will more people take to the streets or does it just offer an alternative for existing cyclists?
It'll be interesting to see how well this small step works out when it opens properly on November 12th.