Accessible cycling scheme takes its next step

Wednesday 20 September 2023

Specially adapted bikes gave people the freedom to experience the joys of cycling at Saumarez Park.

It's all part of a growing initiative to make the bikes available for regular sessions in a safe environment.

In April, the bikes were part of a cycling showcase in the sports hall at Beau Sejour, with enquiries flowing.

This time around riders were able to travel around a marshalled loop at the park - there will be another chance next week to book a slot.

In the UK and Jersey, different schemes run on closed loops daily or weekly.

“There's really a community hub where people can go and cycle safely,” said Active 8 Inclusion Officer Caroline Barby.

“So we’ve been looking into how to develop that further here. We wanted to involve more key stakeholders, including therapists, HSC, and the different users on the island. So today, we've got some outpatients from the Guernsey Therapy Group neuro rehab team coming down to try the trikes out.”

Next week another trike will be available which will can have a wheelchair mounted to the front so people do not need to transfer across.

“We're looking to try and gather momentum from these two events,” she said.

“We've potentially got a location to do half a morning on a weekend. We need to get the bikes, we've got a couple that have been kindly donated kindly as well. We need to get a container to put them in, or a shed and we need to pay for half a day a week to have one staff member manage the scheme. That’s our goal.”

A steady flow of people made use of the bikes which included a side-by-side tandem, an easy-rider trike as well as a standard ebike.

They were available thanks to Ian Browns and manufacturer Vanramm. The Go charity delivered them to the park.  

“It's just lovely to see someone experiencing the feeling of being on a bike.”

The next session on Tuesday 26 September takes pace from 9.30 to 11.30 based at the Folk and Costume Museum courtyard.

Anyone interested in trying a bike can contact Caroline Barby on caroline.barby@gov.gg or Alex Costen on alex.costen@healthimprovement.gg.