Forme-ing new partnerships to break down the barriers to cycling

The Bikeability Trust and Forme Bikes have joined forces to remove the barriers to cycling for thousands of children in England. The new partnership provides almost 200 free and discounted bikes to children learning to cycle in England, as well as discounts on fleet cycles for Bikeability providers.

The partnership will enable children who wouldn’t usually learn to cycle to take part in Bikeability cycle training. Nine projects which successfully bid for £370,000 of funding from the Bikeability Trust’s £1.6 million Widening Participation Fund, chose Forme Bikes to provide cycles as part of their bid for funding.

The lack of cycle ownership can impact participation in Bikeability cycle training. The Widening Participation Fund aims to remove barriers to cycling.  The cycles provided by Forme Bikes will help children from disadvantaged areas, children from ethnic minority backgrounds, children with special educational needs and disabilities, and teenage girls learn to cycle.

In Bradford, Forme Bikes has provided cycles to a project working to increase cycling amongst Asian communities in the city. Seventeen-year-old Aneesa didn’t have a cycle but with the help of Forme Bikes, she was soon getting to grips with cycling after a seven-year hiatus. Following a wobbly start, her Bikeability cycle instructor helped her regain her confidence in the saddle and she quickly mastered turns and signals in the car park of her college.

Teenagers in Bradford are learning to cycle thanks to the Bikeability Trust and Forme Bikes

As well as supporting sixth formers to cycle, the project is supporting early years pupils to learn how to ride. With Forme Bikes and The Bikeability Trust’s support, four-year-old Subhah was soon gliding across her playground on a balance bike with her classmates, racing to the finish line with a squeal of glee.

Subham said: “My favourite thing was doing the bird wings, I felt happy when I was cycling, I had lots of fun.”

In Derby, Spoke Out is using Forme Bikes to help more teenage girls get into cycling. Girls will learn to cycle and get an opportunity to try out different types of cycling in a special programme of activities designed to inspire and empower. In Bristol, 350 families will receive Bikeability cycle training, including Bikeability Fix which teaches you how to repair and maintain your cycle. The training will be focused on areas of deprivation, with Forme Bikes giving families who do not have access to cycles the opportunity to learn how to ride together.

Emily Cherry, Chief Executive at the Bikeability Trust, said: “I’m excited to launch this new partnership with Forme Bikes, which will see thousands of cycles help very deserving children learn to cycle confidently.

“By forming partnerships with well-known cycling brands we’re giving more children the opportunity to take part in Bikeability. We know cycle training unlocks freedom and independence for children, as well as setting them up with healthy and sustainable travel habits.  I am so pleased Forme Bikes share our values and is stepping up to provide discounted cycles for Bikeability providers across the country. I am looking forward to working with Forme Bikes on even more exciting plans in the future – watch this space!”

Bikeability providers have been able to buy Forme Bikes at trade prices to allow them to build up large fleets of cycles that children can borrow to learn to ride on. Forme Bikes are lightweight and have been tested by a team of youngsters, so they’re one of the best cycles for children to learn to cycle on.

Lee Flanaghan, Head of Brand and Communications at Forme Bikes, said: “Forme Bikes is proud to be a partner of the Bikeability Trust. We share the vision to equip millions of children with the skills and confidence to cycle on today’s roads. We are proud to support Bikeability’s mission to enable cycling amongst children who may lack the opportunities to learn to ride. We are so pleased to help people of all ages from communities that are often underrepresented in cycling to get cycling.”

Find out more about the Widening Participation Fund here or use the find a course tool to find Bikeability near you.

You can help us provide more cycles to children and families in need by donating to the Bikeability Trust, without your support we cannot fund projects that help every child access Bikeability cycle training. Click here to donate.