Free Family Learn to Ride and Cycle Confidence Events

Swindon Cycle Campaign has received grant funding through Sports England and Sustrans to help support local people to learn to cycle.

With the Together Fund grant we’re planning four ‘Family Learn to Ride and Cycle Confidence’ events throughout the year. The events will be completely free to attend and offer a hub of support and advice for anyone interested in getting cycling.

We aim to help anyone, no matter your age or ability, gain the skills and confidence to make journeys by bike. A range of cycles and helmets will be available to borrow as well as support for participants in finding a low-cost bike of their own.

Alongside sessions for adults and teens, Paul Ashman will be running skills sessions for children. Paul will cover everything from balance-bike skills to learning to cycle, and cycling confidence on pedal bikes. There will be free basic bike repairs, bike security marking and local experts on hand to provide knowhow, along with a programme of free guided rides tailored to novice riders.

The events will be inclusive to all. Advice and support will be accessible for disabled people on adapted cycles and there will be opportunities to try a range of family cycling accessories to help you get cycling with children. These opportunities will focus on people who may have been more adversely affected during the Covid-19 pandemic and during the current cost of living crisis, but the events will be open to all.

Riding a bike is a great low-cost mode of transport with health, social and environmental benefits. However many people, particularly women, lack the confidence to make trips by bike, and others never had the opportunity to learn as a child.

We’re hoping to work with local organisations to provide low cost bikes to those who need them, to help more people see the benefits that riding a bike can bring for health, transport and independent travel.

The events will take place at the County Ground Athletics Track – a traffic-free environment in the centre of Swindon where the Wheels for All disability cycling sessions are held.They will be scheduled during the school holidays in Easter, Spring and Summer, with daytime, weekend and early evening sessions planned. There will also be 1:1 and private group cycle confidence sessions bookable at a time and venue to suit individual demand.

If you’re interested in finding out more or volunteering to support the project you can ‘like’ Swindon Cycle Campaign on Facebook, sign up to our newsletters here Join our mailing list – Swindon Cycle Campaign or email us on: SwindonCycleCampaign@outlook.com .