EVESHAM youngsters and adults enjoyed a fun filled day of cycling activities at the Big Bike Day.
The event celebrated the launch of an exciting new partnership between Cycle Evesham Vale and Evesham Adventure Playground to bring old bikes to life, teach young people basic bike repair skills and provide bikes to those that need them.
Children brought bikes along for a safety check and tune up ready for riding to school, and more than 20 bikes were given a free service and check over.
More than a dozen bikes were donated on the day, with more promised – these will where possible be brought back to life, and passed on to someone who needs them.
Two of these are being restored and will be given to a family to enable their daughters to visit their grandmother in a nearby village.
The children also had an opportunity to test their cycling skills around a coned obstacle course. This was very popular – several children who were initially quite nervous quickly developed their confidence and by the end of the day they were charging round with big smiles and fearless attitudes.
Building on the success of the Big Bike Day, the Adventure Playground will be running a regular ‘Bike Night’ every Thursday where young people can bring their own bikes to be fixed, work on donor bikes and learn about bikes and cycling.
The first Bike Night was scheduled to be held last night and will continue next Thursday between 4pm and 5.30pm.
Both partners are keen to develop the scheme further with potential projects including a Bike library – a fleet of loan bikes from balance bikes to adult sizes so that as children grow, they can bring their own bike in and exchange it for a larger bike.
Speaking at the launch, Cycle Evesham Vale Chairman Robin Walker said “We are very keen to encourage more youngsters and their families to use their bikes for short journeys and for leisure, and this scheme will help to ensure they have bikes that are safe and serviceable.
“We are delighted to be in partnership with Evesham Adventure Playground, who have the space, the staff and the enthusiasm to make this a great success.”
Programme manager Dave Boucker, said: “We are really pleased to support and develop a project that gives children the chance to gain confidence, skills, independence and keep them safe in a world where there is more traffic and less places to play.”
