How Do you get people to cycle ?

[origamikev]

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

Thanks for that this is what we need a few names and organisations that we can pester
I live in Leicestershire where the events will hopefuly take place and we may be able to get a little funding and sponsorship

 

[sheddy]

Organise a family ride and try and make it as painless as possible. People will come from a wider catchment area if they can drive and park up. Make sure you get publicity in good time, local paper, libraries, local council/company help (car parking, loos etc) police aware.
Be prepared to check their bikes, pump tyres, turn those away with back to front forks, missing brakes etc.
Choose an circular route with interesting landmarks, safe intersections and a picnic/refreshment stop. Take some pics for future publicity

 

[Dave5N]

Rob's Derbyshire. Give him or his colleagues a bell. I am sure they will be really positive and influential.

 

[Andy in Sig]

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.

Out of curiosity what's the take up rate for this i.e. the % of people who try it and decide to get a bike for e.g. commuting?

 

[jimboalee]

Trawling my memory, I recall my early days at school.

Infants school in fact. Greswold J&I, Buryfield Road, Solihull.
They had small (12") wheeled bikes with stabilisers for the kids to ride round the school hall in an anticlock direction. There was about six bikes and thirty kids so there was a increasing feeling of anticipation as the queue shortened in front of us. All the kids, boys and girls enjoyed these sessions, and in the summer, it was in the school yard.

It was 1966 - 67, flower power, The Beatles and Tom Simpson.
England had won the world cup, but football was reserved for the Junior school kids.

A forward thinking school ?

Lots of kids, including myself had trikes and small wheel bikes with stabilisers, and many Mums stood outside with bike in hand at 3:30.

My Mum worked in the school kitchen, and my trike was locked in the Junior school bike sheds while Mum was working.
She walked with me morning and afternoon, letting me ride my little trike.

Cars didn't drive on the footpath then, and they don't now, so why are schools discourageing kids cycling to school?

My friends and my passion for cycling started INSIDE school, not just to-and-from school.

 

[summerdays]

Schools can get involved and organise Bike Breakfasts which usually get a lot of kids and a number of adults too cycling to school on that day at least. And when I organised the one at my kids school the effect was noticable for the next month or more (hard to be precise as it was heading into summer anyway).

Bristol and the surrounding authorities run a event every June - Jam Busting June, where they get various companies to offer prizes. You record how you got to work each day on their website, (eg car, bus, train etc), and then that gives you a number of tickets for the prize draw (well except travelling by car). The chances of winning a prize seem fairly low, but they also have league tables which I think are more fun trying to beat your mates. I don't know how much they get new people cycling but hopefully get some reluctant cyclists cycling more often.

 

[mickle]

Out of curiosity what's the take up rate for this i.e. the % of people who try it and decide to get a bike for e.g. commuting?

Around 70%.

 

[origamikev]

Organise a family ride and try and make it as painless as possible. People will come from a wider catchment area if they can drive and park up. Make sure you get publicity in good time, local paper, libraries, local council/company help (car parking, loos etc) police aware.
Be prepared to check their bikes, pump tyres, turn those away with back to front forks, missing brakes etc.
Choose an circular route with interesting landmarks, safe intersections and a picnic/refreshment stop. Take some pics for future publicity

They tried most of this last year, great idea and it worked on the first sunny sunday morning but I think they then left too much of a gap before the next one and changed the time we then seemed to lose the family angle but you have made some good points that jogged my brain thank you

 

[caz]

Have a look at this website http://www.cyclesolihull.org.uk/ . It is a volunteer-led community initiative to encourage more people to cycle. When I first started cycling I went out on a few of their shorter rides (about 8 miles) and that was enough for me at that stage - I found it hard to keep up with them. Now I go a lot further, often by myself, sometimes with their Saturday Stretchers. I think they've been going for about 4 years or so now and this year has been very successful for them with up to 20+ riders on a number of their rides. They keep their website up to date and put posters of their rides in shops, libraries, notice boards etc. They also have a regular slot in the local paper advertising the next ride. If it wasn't for this organisation I probably wouldn't be cycling today! They helped to build up my confidence by riding with others and taking me along quiet country lanes, that I'd never been down before!

 

[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

Hi Anne I had to get up in the middle of the night to write down my thoughts along your idea of a buddy scheme this maybe a way not only to get new riders more settled but also make experienced riders more aware of new riders fears.
Thank you all for your ideas I will note them all and in a week or so mail them to the group so they can be mulled over before the next meeting after Christmas
please keep them coming no matter how silly or obvious you think they are sometimes the simplest idea is the most affective.

 

[snorri]

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 think it is important to be clear which branch of cycling you wish to promote, cycling for sport, or cycling for transport and leisure?
If people came along and see sporting types in their lycra, helmets and funny shoes it will be an immediate turn-off to those who could perhaps be encouraged to cycle a couple of miles to the shops or workplace in ordinary clothes.
A lot of people are uncomfortable with the idea of wearing clothing different to the norm.

 

[origamikev]

Have a look at this website http://www.cyclesolihull.org.uk/ . It is a volunteer-led community initiative to encourage more people to cycle. When I first started cycling I went out on a few of their shorter rides (about 8 miles) and that was enough for me at that stage - I found it hard to keep up with them. Now I go a lot further, often by myself, sometimes with their Saturday Stretchers. I think they've been going for about 4 years or so now and this year has been very successful for them with up to 20+ riders on a number of their rides. They keep their website up to date and put posters of their rides in shops, libraries, notice boards etc. They also have a regular slot in the local paper advertising the next ride. If it wasn't for this organisation I probably wouldn't be cycling today! They helped to build up my confidence by riding with others and taking me along quiet country lanes, that I'd never been down before!

I just hope someone will be able to send in a post like this next summer about us Well done them and Well done you

 

[caz]

I think it is important to be clear which branch of cycling you wish to promote, cycling for sport, or cycling for transport and leisure?
If people came along and see sporting types in their lycra, helmets and funny shoes it will be an immediate turn-off to those who could perhaps be encouraged to cycle a couple of miles to the shops or workplace in ordinary clothes.
A lot of people are uncomfortable with the idea of wearing clothing different to the norm.

On the Cyclesolihull ride you get all types of riders - those in their lycra and those in ordinary clothes.

Origamikev - you could also try PM'ing Robgul. He organises the MacRide at Stratford upon Avon in Sept and also has input, I think, to Shakespokes which also encourages people to cycle in Stratford.

 

[caz]

I just hope someone will be able to send in a post like this next summer about us Well done them and Well done you

Thanks I've been cycling since 2005 and still pop along occasionally to their smaller rides to encourage them and the beginner riders!

 

[Andy in Sig]

Around 70%.

I'm pleasantly surprised that it is that high a figure. Well done.

Come to think of it, why should I be surprised as I know how much fun cycling is? I suppose lots of people just forget that aspect of their childhood.