Back on the Bike with Kids

Ealing Cycling Campaign gets go-ahead for new project

Over the years Ealing Cycling Campaign have applied and won several grants to run projects, from Transport for London to run our highly successful Cycle into Summer schemes, running Doctor Bikes at school fairs and community events as well workshops at groups such as boy scouts.

We applied and won a grant from a local trust to pilot a scheme to encourage new or lapsed cyclists that had very young children to get back on their bikes. We gauged that many people when they start a family are left without a car as the other partner may use this for work and they then realise how difficult public transport can be with very young child and their associated equipment of prams, bottles, spare clothing etc.

We contacted two local parent support groups, www.netmums.co.uk and Ealing 135 and discovered a lot of interest. The project kicked off in early 2009 with the purchase of child seats and a double trailer and we contacted those that had shown an interest. The candidates were very varied, some people simply wanted some advice as they already had the equipment - we offered them professional on-the-road cycling training and route advice, others had no equipment and we loaned out the child seats and the double trailer to a family with twins.

Feedback so far has been very postive with families going places they never dreamed possible without the car and without the hassle of car parking !

The projet is far from over and we're looking for more people to take part. Please contact David Eales at jellied30@hotmail.com to register an interest if you would like to take part in the project.

Our thanks to Ealing Brentford Consolidated Charites and also toNetmums, Ealing 135, Cyclesense and WizzBikes of Brentford for their help so far - and of course everyone who has taken part!