News : Cash boost for local cycling groups

Twelve local groups are to share a £10,000 bonanza in a bid to encourage more people to get on their bikes.

Earlier this year, Lancaster City Council and partners asked organisations to come forward who could prove they could encourage more local people to give cycling a go.  Grants of up to £1,200 were allocated to the following groups:

Cycleability
Ryelands Primary School
Cog Set
Colt
Moorside Primary School
Langley House Trust
Morecambe Road School
West End Primary School
Morecambe Foyer
Loyne Specialist School
Coronary Coasters Cycling Group
Sunshine Cycle Hire

Commenting on the good news, project coordinator for Coronary Coasters, (see photo opposite) Kizzy Felstead said: "We were over the moon to have received the grant for £300. As a group of cycling enthusiasts who raise money for Coronary Care by organising regular training cycle rides, the grant money will enable us to promote what we do, particularly amongst women who we feel are particularly under-represented especially in the more challenging longer distance cycling."

Katrina Barton and independent travel trainer who works with young people with a range of learning difficulties at Loyne Specialist School said: "The school is delighted to have been successful in their application for funding. This will enable it to purchase bikes and equipment for both staff and students to access. In the school’s further education unit, a number of students are being offered independent travel training. The funding will assist trainers to ‘shadow’ bus travel by bike until the student becomes familiar with their journey to school.

"As many students are also keen to travel to school by bike, the project will initiate safety and familiarisation of their route until the student is able to complete the journey independently."