LCC’s Cycle Buddies project has been matching up cyclists for over a year now. It’s been a huge success and then are many wonderful stories of people trying cycling for the first time or restarting after many years. And we are getting ready to help people with new cycling commutes as many go back to the office.
The project started in Wandsworth, Southwark and Lambeth by LCC volunteers who wanted to help people to cycle during the lockdown. The project was so successful that LCC decided to invest in growing the project and taking it to other London Boroughs. We are now live in 21 boroughs.
Our aim is to help people to cycle more. We introduce new and returning riders to a local cyclist who will ride with them as a buddy. Riding with a helper, our cycle buddies build their confidence on the bike and on the road, explore the quiet streets in their neighbourhood or make a longer journey to work.
Big thanks to everyone who has been thinking of getting a bike out of the shed or trying to ride into work or just get a little exercise and have come to ask us for help. And to all the cyclists who have offered their time and expertise to ride as a buddy with people who want a bit of help.
And finally a big thank you our partners, including Trek Bicycles and Savills Investment Management LLP, who fund Cycle Buddies and make it possible
We want to support the continued passion and commitment of people offering their time to ride with buddies. And recruit more, especially women. We need more female helper buddies to volunteer and share their passion for cycling with other women.
We need the help of our volunteers who match up buddies and look after them in every borough. We want a new registration system in place so we can minimise the admin our volunteers do so they can focus their time on helping people to cycle.
We need funding to enable us to support our helper buddies, to reach out to new riders and expand into the final boroughs. If your organisation can help support this great project please get in touch with our Partnerships Team.
And we need to find better ways to connect with people who are thinking of cycling more to let them know how we can help – we are working on this. But if you know someone who wants to cycle but who may need practical or emotional support – send them our way.
Carol, NHS nurse & cycle buddy: “I would recommend cycling to everyone, for leisure and exercise. I feel happy when I’m riding and afterwards too. Every day I don’t cycle I feel I have missed out.”
Inez had never ridden a bike and wanted to cycle for exercise as she reached retirement. Nigel has taken her to the park, adapted one of his own bikes for her and introduced her to Wheels for Wellbeing to get her started.
Trish says: “I used to only ride my bike at the weekends. My buddy Jo has been fantastic. I didn’t feel confident before, certainly not to ride to work, but I can do that now.”
Sign up for Cycle Buddies
If you want help cycling more in London or want to help someone enjoy cycling. You can find more info here.
