Are you over 18 and thinking of cycling in York, but not sure where to start?
New cycle training for adults is starting this September at Burnholme Leisure Centre – and it’s completely free.
Sessions are on Wednesday afternoons from 9 September, starting at 1.30pm and finishing at 2.30pm. You can drop in at any time during the session and bring your own bike and helmet, or use one of ours.
We are running these sessions for six weeks, and you can join us for as many or as few as you like.
We’ll be helping everyone from complete beginners to ‘I’m fine away from traffic but nervous on the road’ riders. Our super friendly staff are all trained cycle instructors and will listen to your needs and help you become a confident cyclist. We have rented space at the leisure centre so you will be away from traffic and have time and space to practice. The leisure centre also has a café and accessible toilets, and you don’t need to wear any special cycling clothing.
If you have a bike that needs a bit of TLC we’d encourage you to bring it along and our instructors will have a look for you. If we can fix it we will, completely free, and then you can join our sessions. It might be a flat tyre or loose cable, but if we can help you get cycling then we will.
We can also offer inclusive cycles like trikes so if you’d like to try one of these, please contact us via cycle.training@york.gov.uk and we’ll chat with you about your needs and which bike might be best for you.
After our six weeks in Burnholme we’ll move to another part of York so don’t worry if you can’t get to this first round. Keep an eye on our social media for news of the next sessions.
You don’t need to sign up but it will help us plan ahead if you could let us know you’re coming. You can do this via https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cityofyorkcouncil1/2383151 or send us an email at cycle.training@york.gov.uk . If you or someone you know isn’t online and would just like to come down and have a go, you are very welcome to drop by.
You can reach Burnholme Leisure centre on the 11 bus, or use the car parking at the centre.
The sessions are being funded by the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire’s Active Travel Fund. After Burnholme, we will be moving to other parts of York and running the training sessions up to December 2027, so there will be lots of other opportunities to join in.
Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council, said:
“We recognise that not everyone feels confident on a cycle, or had the chance to learn how to ride when they were younger.
"These sessions are a fantastic opportunity for adults to gain the freedom and impendence that cycling can offer and open a whole new world of travel opportunities.”
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
"Everyone should be able to enjoy walking, wheeling, and cycling, but we need to work harder to make it the easy choice for more people.
"Cycling can give you freedom, but I know that taking those first steps in learning or getting back into the saddle after years away can feel daunting.
“That’s why we’re using our Active Travel Fund to deliver these free, friendly sessions in a safe way so more people can build their confidence and enjoy cycling."
Full details are available online at : https://www.york.gov.uk/LearnToRide