Our impact

Enjoy our “Experience York Bike Belles 2022” short film!

Since 2013, York Bike Belles has transformed the lives of many York residents.

Our work has increased walking, cycling and nature connection, while also improving health and wellbeing, community life, reducing inequalities and tackling the climate and nature crises.

Our walking, cycling and nature activities have improved health and wellbeing by:

  • increasing participation in walking, cycling and physical activity
  • improving access to the outdoors and green routes and spaces
  • bringing people together to build relationships. This has reduced isolation and loneliness, improved social contact and enabled people to feel part of the community
  • increasing confidence and self-esteem and developing people’s skills
  • increasing happiness and reducing feelings of anxiety and stress
  • improving connection to nature, with people caring for nature more
  • increasing sense of satisfaction and purpose in life, especially in our volunteers

We have reduced inequalities by attracting and supporting participants from less active groups, often underrepresented in walking, cycling, physical activity and access to nature. This includes women, people over 60, and people with health challenges and disabilities.

On our Cake Confidence start cycling scheme, 91% of participants were women, 60% were aged over 60 and 54% expressed a mental or physical health challenge. On our Cycling Without Age Rides, all passengers were aged between 35 and 104, all with restricted mobility, and many with multiple long-term disabilities.

We have successfully engaged the York community

Between 2017 and early 2020, we delivered 758 walking and cycling-related activities, with 4802 participants, working with 128 volunteers. There were over 60,000 engagements on our popular Facebook page.

Just before lockdown in March 2020, we were delivering an extensive programme of 35 free, face-to-face walking and cycling activities to an average of 119 people a month, helped by a team of 30 trained volunteers.

In late March 2020, all activities were put on hold with the first Covid -19 lockdown. For the 2020/21 year, we adapted to the pandemic situation and continued to deliver communications and some activities online. We adapted other activities to be Covid-secure and restart their face to face delivery again as soon as possible. We supported community volunteers to help deliver our work and develop our organisation. Finally, we created new initiatives in response to the Covid-19 needs of the York community, including free bike loans to key workers and new Nature Time Routes and Walks.

In 2021/22, we made excellent progress in recovering from the pandemic. We delivered 180 free walking, cycling and nature activities to 454 York residents, working with 27 volunteers for 2580 volunteer hours and 9 delivery partners. Have a read of our CIC Report 2021/22.

In 2022/23, we significantly developed our work and organisation in response to need. We delivered 328 free walking, cycling and nature activities to 888 York residents, working with 32 volunteers for 3840 volunteer hours, and 25 delivery partners. Have a read of our CIC Report 2022/23.

In 2023/24, we focused on securing long-term investment in our work in response to need and demand. We were successful in securing multiyear funding in grants, sponsorship and donations. We also delivered 138 free walking, cycling and nature activities to 302 York residents, working with 21 volunteers for 1536 volunteer hours and 4 main delivery partners. Have a read of our CIC Report 2023/24.

In 2024/25, we substantially increased the number and range of our activities. We delivered 765 free walking, cycling and nature activities in total. Of these, 201 activities were face to face to 355 unique York residents, with 799 total attendances. Activities took the form of small group Walks, Rides, 1:1 or 1:2 Cycling Without Age Rides, Workshops, Socials, Gardening, Community events, Training, Coaching, Engagement and Communications. We worked with 28 volunteers for 868 volunteer hours, and with 25+ delivery and referral partners. Have a read of our CIC Report 2024/25.

We have been effective

In 2019, 75% of all respondents to an open survey said contact with us encouraged them to increase their cycling levels; 70% of respondents said they made new friends and felt more part of the York community, and 52% felt more connected to nature. 92% of Cake Confidence participants said they started cycling after support from us. 100% of Cycling Without Age Ride passengers said they felt “much happier” after a Ride 😊.

In 2020/21, we adapted and restarted our Start Cycling with Cake Confidence scheme to be Covid-secure. We delivered 112 activities, and had a 97% success rate in increasing levels of cycling in York residents. The scheme saw excellent increases in participant wellbeing, with the majority learning new skills, feeling happier, with improvements in confidence and self-esteem, feeling more part of the community, less isolated and feeling connected to the natural world.

In 2021/22, we restarted our Cycling Without Age Rides to elder care home residents. Described by one care partner as a “lifesaver”, the Rides enabled elder residents to recover form the isolation, loneliness and mental trauma of the pandemic by getting outside and connecting with nature and their community. We developed a blended volunteer learning programme and had over 100% increase in volunteer recruitment.

In 2022/23, we improved our Start Cycling support to become a new 12-week Pathway, including Bike Buddying, Nature Rides and Bike Maintenance Workshops. We integrated a new Car-Lite Living scheme to support participants to reduce their car use. After Start Cycling support, 88% of participants started cycling or cycled more often. After Car-Lite Living support, the majority of participants walked or cycled more locally, with fewer car journeys.

Also, in 2022/23, we improved our Nature Time Walks and Rides with new habitat and species education, nature connection, sensory and mindful elements. We developed ongoing Nature-based Wellbeing training for the YBB Team. After Nature-based activities, 85% of participants said they felt more connected to nature and that they would care for nature more.

In 2024/25, we delivered the Take the Green Route! project, with up to 15 inclusive walking, cycling and nature activities a week. In an early 2025 survey, the majority of participants who responded said that they walked, cycled, or wheeled more now, and were more active. 100% of participants said our activities had a positive impact on their wellbeing, with 70% saying our activities had a major positive impact. The majority said that they felt more connected to nature and are now spending more time outdoors in nature. 93% said their relationship with nature has improved and 80% that they have learnt more about the natural world. Finally, the majority said they now have more social contact in their community. Have a read of our Stats and Stories.

We have made a real difference to people’s lives

Read some inspiring Stories from people we have worked with.

“It’s my freedom!” (Joyce, Cycling Without Age Ride passenger)

“You have changed my life, Bike Belles” (Rose, Cake Confidence participant)

“Cycling has helped me lose weight, get fitter and it’s also great for mental health” (Simon, Cycling Without Age Volunteer)

And do check out our short videos below starring the participants from our Cake Confidence start cycling scheme and Cycling Without Age Rides.

We have created new programmes

We have created 12 new walking, cycling and nature projects for York. This includes Cake Confidence, York’s Walk Cycle Festivals, award-winning Travel with Tots, Social Rides, the Illuminate Your Bike Ride, cheese and wine Bike Maintenance workshops, the Walking Book Group, Nature Time Walks and Rides, Nature Time Routes, Cycling Without Age Nature Rides, Car-Lite Living, Take the Green Route! and Life’s Better by Bike.

We have improved public spaces

We helped improve 8 York public and green spaces, with 5 Greenway Murals on routes across the city, a trial on-street parklet on Micklegate and grass Labyrinths in the Museum Gardens and Rowntree Park. In 2024/25, we improved the biodiversity of three community green spaces into Wilder Spaces.

We have made a big difference to women’s lives.

We originally set up in 2013 as a cycling community for women, to enable more women to discover the joys of a cycling lifestyle.

We have since expanded our work, but let’s not to forget the inspiring video from that time – 3 women, 3 bikes, 3 months. Check it out!

Finally, we rely on donations and grants to fund our activities, which are offered free of charge to York residents. If you are able to support us, please do consider a donation. You can donate here.

York Bike Belles is an award-winning charitable organisation, incorporated as a not for profit Community Interest Company. Walk and cycle with us into a healthy, green and kind future!