25% of Families Not Comfortable Cycling

Colin Jackson: "Let's rekindle our love of cycling this Bike Week and get active."

Former Olympic champion hurdler and Bike Week Ambassador, Colin Jackson, has today (12 JUNE 2017) called on all Brits to get on their bikes this Bike Week, in his bid to help the nation get more active through cycling.

A study Commissioned by Cycling UK and Halfords ahead of Bike Week (10 -18 June) shows that more than one in ten (12%) of British families with kids 12 years and under have at least one family member who doesn’t know how to ride a bike, amid fears that many are missing out on the chance to take up this fun and essential life skill.

In the poll of over 500 families, some 25% said they aren’t comfortable cycling, with wide-ranging reasons from ill health or the weather, to not feeling confident cycling with traffic or having just had a baby.

The poll also reveals that more than three quarters (76%) would cycle more often as a family if there were more traffic-free routes available to cycle on.

Cycling UK’s Bike Week Ambassador, Colin Jackson said “One of my fondest memories from my childhood, having learnt to ride my bike at school, is having fun pedalling about with my sister and with my mates. What better time to love riding a bike than during Bike Week. Rekindle your love of cycling and join me in the saddle!”

The Bike Week poll also found that 36% would cycle more if they were trained to ride a bike through school clubs or locally funded cycling courses.

Simon Irons, Group Cycling Director at Halfords says: “Cycling is a core life skill and is one activity that can give children the exercise they need, and develop their confidence, health and well-being. We are encouraging schools to invest their Physical Education premium by making cycling a central pillar in active schools clubs to give children the confidence to cycle more.”

Funding for the Physical Education premium is provided jointly by the Departments for Education, Health and Culture, Media and Sport. This funding is ring-fenced and therefore can only be spent on provision of PE and sport in schools.

Cycling UK’s Chief Executive, Paul Tuohy said: “Bike Week is the best time of year to start cycling. With our theme being ‘Fun & Freedom’ this summer, it’s a reminder to us all that exercise can be just as enjoyable as it can be sociable. Cycling UK wants to help millions more people to rediscover – or find out for the first time – just how much fun you can have cycling. So whether you’re out with friends, are planning a family get together, or like getting away from the daily grind, join the half a million people taking part in Bike Week from 10 – 18 June.”

Paul Tuohy added “During the Olympics the Government showed what can be achieved if we invest wisely in sport. Now’s the time to invest in more than medals, by funding the health and wellbeing of our next generation.”

To celebrate Bike Week, and help families get the most out of their bikes, Halfords is offering free bike checks plus 20% off all gold, silver and bronze bike services during the week. The move comes after research by the retailer shows that almost 50% aren’t confident when it comes to performing basic checks such as repairing punctures, oiling chains and pumping tyres.

Pledge to take part in Bike Week and Cycling UK will enter you into a prize draw for your chance to win a bike of your choice from Halfords worth £600, and other great prizes (see website for terms & conditions – bikeweek.org.uk/pledge)

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For further information please contact publicity@cyclinguk.org or 07717 724 089 for Cycling UK and Halfords@z-pr.com or 020 7896 3404 for Halfords.