Grants to Encourage More Londoners to Take Up Cycling
Transport for London and Groundwork London are inviting community and not-for-profit groups across London to apply for grants to get their communities cycling.
Since it began, TfL's Cycling Grants London program has helped 90 projects encourage over 14,000 people to cycle. Now approaching its fourth year, TfL is making more than £240,000 available to help up to 30 groups offer a range of cycling initiatives aimed at people who may not otherwise ride a bike. Initiatives include cycle training, loan bikes, guided rides and courses to teach basic cycle maintenance. New projects will receive up to £10,000 over three years.
The Cycle Grants London programme is part of TfL's record investment in cycling over the next five years to make it easier and more appealing. By breaking down the barriers to cycling and making it safer, TfL aims to diversify cycling and make it accessible to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. TfL is working closely with boroughs, as well as promoting accessible cycling modes such as the Santander Cycles scheme and electric bikes.
Limehouse Women's Cycling is one example of a project, which has received funding from Cycling Grants London, and is aimed at helping women to get into cycling. The sessions are aimed especially at Bangladeshi women, though the group is mixed, and everyone's cycling ability is different. One member described the experience as life changing.
Momtaz Begum-Hossain, a participant in the Limehouse Women's Cycle Project, said: ''I had often wondered if I would ever be able to ride a bike. I never learnt as a child, and when I became an adult so many other distractions came along that my cycling goals were forgotten about. I enrolled in a free 12-week women's cycling course, I absolutely loved the cycling part and seeing the others all grow and develop as the weeks go on. Having a routine of going to class on Sunday morning, knowing I was going to spend it in beautiful surroundings with friendly women who were all so inspiring, was the highlight of my weekend.''
As part of the Mayor's Transport Strategy, the Mayor has set a target to increase the proportion of people walking, cycling and taking public transport to 80 % of journeys by 2041, compared to 64 percent now. Encouraging more Londoners to take up cycling is an important part of this work.
Staynton Brown, TfL's director of diversity and Inclusion, said: "We're working hard to make cycling more accessible for everyone and it's fantastic to hear of so many success stories. As we enter the fourth year of this scheme, we hope to encourage even more Londoners of all ages and backgrounds to take up cycling, improving their well-being and London's air quality and congestion."
Lindy Kelly, executive director of Groundwork London, said: "Groundwork are very excited about the launch of the 2018 round of Cycling Grants London funding with TfL. Since 2015, we've supported 90 community cycling projects across London. This year we're looking forward to supporting more applicants and seeing many more Londoners of all backgrounds, ages and abilities discover the joy and the benefits of cycling."
As well as Cycling Grants London, TfL has a number of other programs that promote cycling in London including Santander Cycles, Cycle Skills sessions, which are free in all London boroughs, and Cycling Workplaces, which offers organisations without cycling facilities up to £10,000 worth of cycling products and services to encourage employees to cycle to work.
