Community cycling projects get cash boost from TfL

Transport for London (TfL has awarded £200,000 to cycling projects across the capital. Three cycling projects in Islington have shared £12,000 in funding to boost cycling in the community. The funding is from Transport for London (TfL) and has been given to Kate Greenaway School and Children's Centre (BikeStart), £3,116, Hayward Adventure Playground, £5,000, and On the Streets – Margins, £4,300.

Kate Greenaway is a nursery school and children’s centre maintained by Islington Council and BikeStart is a well-established project promoting cycling to children under the age of five and their families. Hayward is a cycling programme for children with special needs, and Margins is a homeless project that focuses on training an skills development.

Funding was awarded as part of the annual £200,000 Community Cycling Fund for London. Grants of up to £5,000 are made available to cycling groups, schools, community groups and charities for activities which encourage people to get cycling.

Kate Greenaway’s BikeStart has seen the centre work with parents to encourage young children to learn to ride on two-wheeled bikes using "likeabikes" - bicycles without pedals which children push themselves along on to get them used to the sensation of being on a bike and balancing on two wheels.

Councillor Paula Belford, Islington Council's executive member for children and young people, said: "These brilliant bikes are making a real difference for Islington's children.”

Two cycling groups from Bromley have also benefitted to the tune of £3,500 from the Community cycling fund to help them encourage more riding in the borough.
The money has been given to the Hayes Bigfoot and Penge Go-Ride clubs, which are a two-in-one Bromley based cycling project.

They are community-based groups of cyclists who aim to raise the profile of cycling in Bromley and increase the number of regular cyclists. Their target group includes children and families.

Project leader Reverend Charles Potter said: "When we first set out to create children's cycling clubs across the borough, we knew there was a great need. We want to make organised cycling accessible to every child, to have a cultural shift towards sustainable and healthy means of transport, as well as promote community networking."