Scheme of the Month - Promoting Cycling with Young Families
Cycle Trailer Tryout Scheme
People may give up cycling when they have young children. However trailers allow parents to cycle easily with up to 2 children and carry luggage.
To promote cycling and help tackle car congestion during the school run Cambridge City Council Cycling Officers have set up the ‘Cycle Trailer Tryout Scheme’ giving parents the opportunity to try out a cycle trailer before committing to the expense of buying their own trailer.
How does it work?
Parents are encouraged to borrow a trailer for one week via participating Playgroups and Nurseries who join the scheme over a four-week period. Staff are shown how to easily fix the trailers to a bike and are familiarised with the trailers before going through this process with each parent who borrows a trailer. Each time the trailers are returned Staff run through a checklist to ensure that they are still in good working condition.
Parents borrowing a trailer are provided with a trailer manual and a ‘parent pack’ containing a local cycle map, safety information, a feedback form, and general cycling information.
The scheme has been running for over two years and has had a very positive response from parents and staff. Feedback forms have shown half of the parents that have joined the scheme are now considering purchasing their own trailer or have already done so.
Park Street Cycle Park Pushchair Scheme
Increasingly more and more parents find it convenient to cycle into Cambridge City centre with their young children using child seats and trailers. However without a pushchair walking around can be quite difficult. In response to this need, Cambridge City Council has recently initiated its new Pushchair Scheme. This scheme enables parents with young children to borrow a pushchair for free and thereby helping them continue their journey once they have parked their cycles.
At present there are four pushchairs and each is available to borrow between 10am to 4pm seven days a week. The pushchairs are available from attendants at Park Street Cycle Park in Cambridge.
Park Street Cycle Park
Conveniently situated near the river, shops and the historic centre of Cambridge, Park Street Cycle Park is Britain’s biggest free indoor cycle park providing space for over 200 cycles with CCTV coverage and attendants on duty all day until 8pm. Cycle lockers are also available for hire on a monthly basis. Entrance to the cycle park by cyclists and pedestrians is via Park Street, a short two minute walk from the heart of Cambridge city centre.
For further information visit www.cambridge.gov.uk/cycling
or contact or
