Join our friendly community!
Because everyday walking and cycling is the natural way to get around our beautiful city.
Background
York Bike Belles has been working in York since 2014 and has directly engaged with over 8000 people in that time and many more online. In a 2015 survey, 75% of respondents said contact with us encouraged them to increase their cycling levels. We were originally a project targeting women, delivered by Sustrans and funded by City of York Council’s i-Travel York programme. Funding for this project came to an end in mid-2016.
Our vision and ethos
In mid 2016, the core staff and champions from the project got together and decided to form an independent, volunteer-led community organisation, with a new inclusive ethos. Our vision is that everyday walking and cycling becomes the natural choice of transport across York, so that everyone can enjoy better health, well being and quality of life.
We offer a core, regular programme of cycling support activities, all free of charge to the community. We have committed to continue our most popular and effective activities on a volunteer basis to ensure the sustainability of essential cycling support in York, regardless of the external funding environment.
Our organisation
We are a fully-constituted community organisation, led by a management committee of local women and men passionate about increasing everyday walking and cycling in York.
We have a core delivery team who are trained in ride leading, bike mechanics, first aid and who are all CRB-checked. Our work is people-centred and responsive to need. We pride ourselves in making all our activities safe, sociable, supportive and, above all, fun!
We have a focus on everyday walking and cycling and encouraging those new to cycling. We are developing a specialism in working with people currently under-represented in cycling, such as women, parents of young children, older adults and lower income communities. Our work is innovative, dynamic and continually developing. In 2017, we are looking to further explore artistic activity as part of our practice. Our work has been recognised nationally – York Bike Belles #travelwithtots won a national award in 2016 for Excellence in Cycling from Modeshift.
We pursue a culture of collaboration and positive advocacy towards making York a better place for walking and cycling, a #cityforpeople. We work strategically across the city. We are an integral part of York’s community, working with multiple community partners, businesses and City of York Council. We are part of the leadership team for the exciting city-wide One Planet York movement – working to make York a more sustainable, resilient and collaborative city.
Projects 2017
Thanks to funding from the Big Lottery, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Hungate Community Fund, i-Travel York and sponsorship from Cycle Heaven and their suppliers, Madison, we are delivering an exciting programme of walking and cycling activities in 2017, including the #walkcyclefestival, cake confidence sessions, cycle friend scheme and new projects in Derwenthorpe, Hungate and with job-seekers on low incomes. More details on here as these projects develop.
We are always looking for volunteer champions to help with our work, so do email yorkbikebelles@gmail if you are interested in being part of our friendly team.
