Free socially distant one-to-one cycle training from the front door to help people cycle to work or college in West Yorkshire

Tuesday, 11 August 2020 20:04

The cycle training scheme is being delivered as part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme, which is aimed at enabling more people to travel by bike and on foot, in partnership with local authorities

From journey planning to cycling in traffic, and tackling busy junctions and roundabouts, the one-to-one sessions are aimed at giving people the skills and confidence to travel by bike regularly to a destination, such as a workplace.

Each session will be led by a qualified cycling instructor on a route chosen by the participant.

Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, said:

“Two thirds of journeys in our region are less than five miles, which takes about 30-minutes by bike.

“To date, more than 1,860 people have benefitted from the Combined Authority’s free adult cycle training scheme, with nearly 60% of attendees cycling more often as a result.

“Enabling increasing numbers of us to travel by bike and on foot is more important than ever, not only as we look to address the health, transport and economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.”

The sessions are available to anyone aged 16 plus who lives in West Yorkshire. Participants must have access to a roadworthy bike and be confident cycling on traffic-free routes and, ideally, quiet residential streets.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working in partnership with local authorities to deliver a package of emergency measures, including trial cycling and walking infrastructure, to help people move around the region safely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This work includes both short and longer-term proposals, which are being submitted to Government to access £12.5 million funding for West Yorkshire through the Emergency Active Travel Fund.

An online map has also been created for residents to highlight areas where improvements are needed to help more people travel by bike or on foot.

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