April 4, 2023

A new cycling project which aims to teach children the essential skills of learning to ride and how to look after a bicycle has launched in Carlisle.

The Ride Happy project is being funded by Active Cumbria’s Active Travel Team and delivered by Rebike Community Cycle Hub in Carlisle.  

Supporting children who are unable to ride or are lacking in confidence to cycle on a regular basis, the project will also give participants the skills to maintain the cycles and to learn about the workings including gears, brakes and feel confident about riding by bike to school.

Five primary schools participating in the project will each be given ten bikes to be distributed to children to enable them to take part along with cycle helmets and maintenance equipment such as tyre pumps and repair kits. The bikes remain in school and can be used for other extracurricular or enrichment projects.

The Ride Happy project compliments the popular Bikeability scheme, an accredited national training programme to provide the skills and confidence for pupils to navigate the roads safely via bicycle by providing a pathway for those unable to ride or less confident to progress onto the Bikeability programme.

The whole school community can benefit from Ride Happy with support staff, parents and guardians actively encouraged to attend the sessions with the emphasis on equipping them with the knowledge and skills to start a cycling group within their schools and communities.

Rebike Community Cycle Hub Secretary Lance Greenhalgh said “Not everyone is fortunate to own or have access to a bike themselves and the Ride Happy project is really making a difference in addressing those issues directly. By providing bikes and safety equipment the children are able to join the sessions and develop lifelong skills both in cycling and essential bike maintenance.  It’s the first step towards igniting a passion for cycling.”

Active Cumbria Active Travel Officer Jodie Laird said “This funding will help over 50 young people learn new skills to help kickstart what is hoped will be a lifelong love of cycling and encourage more young people to actively travel to school by cycling.  We are delighted to have been able to support the Ride Happy project and are looking forward following the journey of those involved.”

About Rebike Community

The aims of the Carlisle Community Cycle Hub .... Making cycling available to everyone

* Encourage adults (regardless of age, cycling experience, gender, social class) to consider cycling as a recreation and as an alternative means of transport.

* Provide easy access to free of charge cycle loan.

Provide opportunities for social interaction with led cycle rides.

* Provide facilities for teaching/learning bike care and maintenance classes.

* Create mutual links with local cycling groups.

The Hub is supported entirely by volunteers, Cycling UK and thanks to McKnight & Son has a workshop next to Rebike at the former Mitchell Dryers works in Denton Street.

For more information visit www.carlislecyclehub.org