How Do you get people to cycle ?

[origamikev]

Hi I would appreciate any advise on ways to get young and old involved in cycling and to encourage people back in the saddle.
I have been asked to help our local council along with other cycle enthusiasts to come up with ideas for events next spring
Thoughts so far :

cycle marathon
pub runs
local hubs riding to a common venue picnic etc
cycle treasure hunt


now other to you..........................

 

[alecstilleyedye]

buggered if i know. i can't even persuade my six year old to learn to ride his.

our local bikeathon always draws a good crowd, with a short, medium and challenge ride to choose from. i dare say a few people go out again the next weekend, although i suspect that many will put the bike back in the shed 'til the next one…

 

[annedonnelly]

It's a great idea to have special events, but you also ought to think about encouraging people to cycle to everyday venues - the shops, work, taking the kids to school, etc.

So what about hub rides to the supermarket and a demo of how much shopping you can get in a pair of panniers?

As a relatively inexperienced cyclist I'd appreciate a buddy scheme to help me be more confident on the roads - how to approach junctions, when to be in primary, etc. I'm sure a couple of hours with an experienced cyclist would help enormously.

And provision for cycle stands, etc. is important too so if you can influence the council to provide those and to advertise where they are that would help.

Maybe a "try a bike" session for people without a bike. Enthusiasts would let beginners borrow a bike for a few minutes trial - or perhaps a LBS could supply some for people to try.

Anne

 

[marinyork]

As a relatively inexperienced cyclist I'd appreciate a buddy scheme to help me be more confident on the roads - how to approach junctions, when to be in primary, etc. I'm sure a couple of hours with an experienced cyclist would help enormously.

Most councils run free training. I have acquaintances from several different organisations that do this and it usually gets delegated out from the council or other bodies. If you have a look locally to you I'm sure you'd find someone very happy to help.

 

[mickle]

It's a selling job like any other. Explain the features and benefits and then counter their objections one by one. The big question is how best to communicate with your target audience, the possibilities are endless. Some of us are coming to the conclusion that the future is in getting families cycling and I think the way to get to families is to target mums.

A few of we forum members do this kind of thing for a living.

Hilldodger is one of the founders of ( cyclemagic.org ) who are based in Leicester.
Spandex and I work for Company of Cyclists ( companyofcyclists.com ) in York.

One of the things that CoC does is lend people bikes and all the gear for a month. It's designed to get people over the hurdle (objection) of spending out two or three hundred quid on a bike only to discover that they don't get on with it. From our client's point of view it's a great programme because we can provide them with tangible results. You can host any number of Fun Rides, Roadshows, Festivals and Cyclist's Breakfast events but you can never know how successful they are in terms of actually getting bums on seats after the event.

 

[Over The Hill]

Offer them a bag of chips at the end perhaps?

People generally do not like things that involve some degree of effort or that needs specal equipment (bike and gear) and also cycling is seen as un-cool and people on a bike are generally thought of as a bit of a tit.

So an association with fun is good as is any link to being green which is quite trendy nowadays would be good.
Not my thing but can you look at it like people who are trying to get us to not use plastic bags? Provide us with a subsidised alternative with a green message to bang on about ("Im saving the planet so I am cool") so have "green" bikes to borrow for a week to try out.
A sort of Daz challenge. Borrow a bike and see if it is quicker better gets you fitter than the car/bus etc. Bikes have to be confident enough to take on other forms of transport and win.
Invent a cycle helmet that does not flatten a girls hair.

 

[Danny]

Linking up with Company of Cyclists would be a good start.

You could also contact York City Council who have done a lot of cycle promotion - for example they:

• Provide training for adults who are not used to cycling on the roads
• Actively encourage children to cycle to school
• Encourage schools to have cycling sessions as part of their PE curriculum

If you want to pursue this I can get hold of the details of who you should contact in York Council.

Some of the York activities are done in conjunction with Sustrans, so it might be worth contacting them as well.

 

[spandex]

How is it Mickle's web site ?

 

[spandex]

It just is, the same as his method of cleaning a chain

OOOOOOk

 

[Dave5N]

Talk to your local clubs. They can provide people, enthusiasm and expertise. They also provide a structure to enable people to stay cycling once the novelty wears off.

Even more importantly, there is an infrastructure to provide safe cycling for children. Good habits can start young.

 

[alp1950]

Target the schools. Maybe a cycle to school day. Get the PTA on board. Many primary schools have environmental issues as part of the curriculum. Try to tie in with this.

Adults. Far more difficult. Would have been good to capture the Zeitgeist during the Olympics but too late now. Perhaps a mass sponsored charity cycle through local firms with money saved on petrol/transport going to some major local charity?

 

[origamikev]

It's a great idea to have special events, but you also ought to think about encouraging people to cycle to everyday venues - the shops, work, taking the kids to school, etc.

So what about hub rides to the supermarket and a demo of how much shopping you can get in a pair of panniers?

As a relatively inexperienced cyclist I'd appreciate a buddy scheme to help me be more confident on the roads - how to approach junctions, when to be in primary, etc. I'm sure a couple of hours with an experienced cyclist would help enormously.

And provision for cycle stands, etc. is important too so if you can influence the council to provide those and to advertise where they are that would help.

Maybe a "try a bike" session for people without a bike. Enthusiasts would let beginners borrow a bike for a few minutes trial - or perhaps a LBS could supply some for people to try.

Anne

Wow great thank you all for your input and keep it coming.
A lot of the things you have said make sense and we are looking at thngs like schools, scouts,shopping etc and try out sessions and we have a local club involvement that will provide training the bridge im trying to cross is the old "you'll go too fast for me " and "i'll never be able to ride that far" please if you have any more ideas let me know...

 

[Dave5N]

I've tried with schools but unless you have some teachers willing to take it forward it is unsustainable. Go-Ride clubs bring large numbers of kids in - there were 251 people racing in our local cyclo-cross league on Sunday. 118 were under 18; 46 were under 10.

You can also get a lot of support from British Cycling - they have professional full-time Go-Ride coaches who are in schools all the time. Link up with them. Not sure where you are, but i think Rob Sharman, a Premier racing man and a very nice person has recently started in the East Midlands

 

[origamikev]

buggered if i know. i can't even persuade my six year old to learn to ride his.

our local bikeathon always draws a good crowd, with a short, medium and challenge ride to choose from. i dare say a few people go out again the next weekend, although i suspect that many will put the bike back in the shed 'til the next one…

Thanks for your input as for your six year old or any other child they are very easy to brib someone sugested let them know what it costs to fuel your car per mile and pay them a percentage for every mile they bike where you would normaly take them in the car !

 

[Dave5N]

Here you go:


East Midlands

Regional Manager - Simon Watts
Tel: 07940 738365
Email: simonwatts@britishcycling.org.uk

Go-Ride Coach - Steve Crosland
Tel: 07793 844 650
Email: stevecrosland@britishcycling.org.uk

Go-Ride Coach - Rob Sharman
Tel: 07534 281 264
Email: robsharman@britishcycling.org.uk
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