York Bike Belles

Enjoy a healthy, affordable and climate-friendly lifestyle!

“Living car-lite in York is easy, fun and full of variety. It energizes and keeps me positive. It makes me glad to be alive.” (Sheridan)

**UPDATE: Our Car-Lite Living scheme is on hold until we secure continuation funding. Please email yorkbikebelles@gmail.com to be put on a waiting list.**

After the hottest-ever temperatures in 2022, are you keen to help tackle the climate crisis?

Here’s one way. Enjoy ‘Car-Lite Living’, and switch driving for greener journeys – walking, cycling or public transport. We offer FREE advice, a personal journey plan, and 1:1 friendly support on walks, rides or public transport.

You’ll feel healthier and happier, keep your travel affordable, meet new people in a friendly community, take climate action and enjoy life more!

What is Car-Lite Living?

Car-Lite Living is a new, free scheme to support you into walking, cycling and using public transport more, and driving less.

We ask that you switch at least 1 regular driving journey in York for a greener journey. Regular journeys could be to work, education, the shops or for other errands, to see friends and family, for leisure or to green spaces, to the countryside or seaside.

The 3 Car-Lite Living Steps are:

Step 1:

Car-Lite Living Conversation – you’ll have an initial chat with one of our friendly team to discuss your journeys, needs and goals. This can take place over the phone or in a mutually-convenient community venue.

If you are new or a returner to cycling, we can refer you to our Cake Confidence start cycling scheme.

Step 2:

Car-Lite Living Plan of Support – we offer you a personalised plan tailored to you. This can include advice, a personal journey plan and 1: 1 friendly support on walks, rides and public transport.

Step 3:

Review – we celebrate your progress, offer you more support if needed and welcome you to the Car-Lite Living community. We invite you on our other activities and to our ‘Better Together’ friendship scheme so you can enjoy company on your journeys.

Everyone is welcome!

We welcome enquiries from people of all ages, abilities, life situations and with health concerns. We have put in place flexible support to cater for a diversity of needs. We can support children as part of family groups.

What are the benefits of Car-Lite Living?

It’s a win – win. You’ll have the satisfaction of taking climate action, and also enjoy many other benefits.

Walking or cycling your regular journeys is an easy way to fit personal care into your daily life. You’ll feel healthier and happier. You’ll spend time outdoors, exercise in York’s beautiful environment, keep your travel affordable, meet new people in a friendly community, and enjoy life more!

Switching one regular journey might not seem much but it all adds up. Research

has shown that “swapping the car for walking, cycling and e-biking even just one day a week makes a significant impact on personal carbon emissions in cities.”

We hope you’ll be inspired by stories from people in York who already enjoy Car-Lite Living:

Dom says: “When I’m walking along, smiling as I pass people, paying attention to wildlife, or cycling through some of the beautiful, quiet cycleways in York, I find myself having fun.”

Sheridan says: “Living car-lite in York is my best life. It’s easy, fun and full of variety. It energizes and keeps me positive. It makes me glad to be alive.”

Alison says: “I cycle because it keeps me fit and active, not just as a means of transport but also for pleasure and social engagement.”

YBB Programme

‘Enjoy Car-Lite Living!’ is part of our free programme of walking, cycling and nature activities, communications and volunteering for York residents, all year round. We arrange support and flexibility where needed.

We hope you’ll join our activities this year. You’ll walk and cycle more, and enjoy a healthy, sociable and green lifestyle. Plus, you’ll get outdoors, feel well, meet new friends, tune into nature, be climate-friendly and enjoy life more!

Check out our other activities.

Thank you

Thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for “Together for our Planet” funding to help our community take practical climate action in 2022.

Can you help Car-Lite Living grow?

We rely on donations, grants and sponsorship to fund our work. Your donation will enable us to offer support into car-lite living to more people in York. Please donate here.

‘Car-Lite Living’ is an original York Bike Belles project, all rights reserved, 2022.