Cycling is growing. Use of the UK National Cycling Network increased by 19% over the pandemic, according to cycling charity Sustrans, the custodian of the National Cycling Network.
But there are also still significant barriers to entry when it comes to the sport, particularly in terms of accessibility.
A review by Sustrans in 2018 found there were two main priorities in order to improve the network: make it safer and make it more accessible.
Since this appraisal, Sustrans has been working on the project Paths for Everyone to remove physical barriers on sections of cycle paths which prevent bikes used by adaptive cyclists, such as trikes and handcycles, from accessing the path.
‘Covid has seen a sharpened focus on the need for everyone to be able to access green spaces, and there is a growing demand for accessible bikes and bike paths,’ explains Kierson Wise, project manager for Paths for Everyone.
‘Adaptive cyclists are discriminated against because of these major physical barriers. They cannot use the paths, which means they cannot enjoy green spaces and puts limits on their freedom to exercise.
‘The barriers are not conducive to social distancing or a welcoming network.’
Sustrans has already removed over 300 barriers and has also been improving surface quality.
According to the charity, the main reasons for these physical barriers are livestock control, to influence user behaviours, and stop vehicles, such as motorbikes, from using the paths.
Sustrans is working with a range of groups, including farmers and local authorities, to solve the issue and aims to complete the project in 2040.
The first hurdle: access to bikes
It’s not just cycle paths which pose a problem. Access to adaptive cycles is also challenging, as typically these are expensive and often not readily available to try out.
Wheels for All, also known as Cycling Projects, aims to make cycling more accessible to all and promotes inclusive cycling through a range of community engagement programmes which give people the chance to cycle on a regular basis.
It has the largest national network of inclusive cycling hubs and, before the pandemic, would usually see around 60 people coming to its centres to try out its adaptive bikes.
‘During Covid-19 we took bikes to people, so they could enjoy them and try them out,’ explains Ian Tierney, charity director of Wheels for All.
‘Now less people come to the hubs but it means that we get to know those who do come individually and understand their needs.
‘Adaptive bikes are not cheap and can cost anywhere from £500 to £5,000, or upwards for a racier model, so we are hoping to establish a loan system to make these bikes more readily available.’
In 2019 the government published new guidance on the Cycle to Work scheme, which removed the £1,000 cap to make it easier for people to access adaptive cycles and e-cycles.
However, Tierney points out that removing the loan cap is not the whole solution.
‘It’s the other things, such as training, storage and people to ride with, that make the whole inclusive cycling experience far more beneficial and enjoyable for everyone. We want to show that cycling is something anyone can do if they want to.’
We Ride Together is another initiative by the charity which promotes people accompanying others on rides to share their passion for cycling and create a more inclusive environment.
Brands, individuals and cycling clubs can all get involved. Email the national coordinator tom.glynn@cycling.org.uk to volunteer.
E-bikes, but maybe not as you know them
With the rise of e-bikes, e-assisted handcycles are another tool for closing the gap on inclusion.
For adaptive cyclist Neil Russell, riding an e-assisted handcycle allowd him to explore wild and remote places that he otherwise might not be able to get to and the ease of speed which e-bikes permit allow him to ride alongside other cyclists.
‘I have Spina-Bifida and had a below knee amputation when I was 18,’ says Russell, who has been handcycling for about six years.
‘I started off road handcycling but realised that the places I wanted to see were more remote, so I tried off-road, and I love it now.
‘E-assisted bikes allow me to cycle alongside someone on a road bike and not worry about being slow.
‘It means we can all cycle together and people with disabilities can explore too.’
Adaptive cyclists also have to pay more attention to road surfaces and the steepness of hills, because of the mechanics of their bikes which lack as much momentum as a standard road bike.
Russell uses Strava for his route planning as the 3D mapping shows him exactly what the route will entail.
Strava’s 3D Terrain View means athletes can better visualise the topography and elevation of the route they will take, which for adaptive cyclists is really important.
‘It is really great to be able to see what sort of terrain the route will entail, so I can make sure I am prepared,’ adds Russell.
Representation matters
RGT cycling, the cycling training app, has introduced the first handcycling avatar designed for a virtual platform.
RGT Cycling teamed up with Echelon Racing League, Project Echelon Racing, and Paralyzed Veterans of America to create a handcycle avatar for adaptive cyclists in the virtual cycling platform.
‘We’re very proud to bring this collaboration to life and take this exciting first step in recognising the importance of accessibility and inclusivity for athletes with disabilities,’ explains James Vickers, RGT Cycling Head of Brand and Marketing.
‘It’s just the start of a journey that will see a whole range of bikes for different needs on the platform, while also creating opportunities for NGBs and the UCI to host truly representative eSports National and World Championships for athletes with disabilities.
‘Although the importance of this move may not initially be realised by all, we hope that it acts as a catalyst for change towards inclusivity in cycling, improving the outlook for everyone.’
There is clearly more work to be done to make cycling inclusive, but initiatives such as those above are helping the industry to move in the right direction.
The more people who cycle, the better.