Scheme of the Month - Family Cycle Clubs, LB Hackney and STA Bikes
The Family Cycle Clubs has just won the London Cycling Campaign award for Best Cycling Initiative for Young People or Children in London. The project came about in the summer last year. Cllr Rita Krishna, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, suggested that existing cycle training for families should be expanded, to help tackle childhood obesity and increase cycling in areas where few people travel by bike.
STA Bikes, Hackney’s cycle training provider, which offers free bike lessons to anyone working, living or studying in the Borough, drew up a programme to target key groups, in partnership with the Council’s Streetscene team. Team Hackney, the Local Strategic Partnership, provided £30,000 funding to continue and expand existing family cycle clubs in two schools, and also on estates and in parks. The scheme was so successful that it has been commissioned for another year.
Various events and training took place in the Sir Thomas Abney Primary and Tyssen Community Primary schools in Spring 2008. Nearly 200 children and adults took part in the free training, with parents training alongside their children. Events also took place at Milton Grove, Wilton Estate and Fellows Court over the summer.
Hundreds of young people and their families, from a wide range of backgrounds, got involved, learnt how to ride a bike safely and are now really enjoying the health benefits. Many people who took part had never cycled before but now own their own bikes and know how to maintain them.
For more details of the scheme click here
For more information, please contact Alix Stredwick at:
or STA Bikes at: www.stabikes.org.uk
