The children who are most likely to miss out on Bikeability Training are from low-income backgrounds – particularly those living in wards with high levels of deprivation, as well as young women and girls and children from ethnic minority backgrounds.
These barriers include:
- Access to cycling equipment. As children do not own cycles, they are less likely to be able to take up the offer of school based Bikeability and, without access to cycles due to financial hardship, they are also unable to learn at home or in the community.
- Parents unable to cycle – they are therefore are unable to be a role model for young people or accompany them on bike rides
- Lack of bike maintenance skills, meaning that people stop cycling due to basic maintenance issues.
One family who received bikes in 2020 reported that they had to stop cycling to school after the mother’s bike had a puncture. At a community workshop run by Broken Spoke in 2021, the mother learned how to fix the puncture, allowing her and her children to start cycling to school again.
Broken Spoke Bike Coop has been working in collaboration with Oxford Hub and JoyRiders Oxford to improve accessibility and participation using a holistic approach to address the many barriers faced within our city’s communities. From now until the end of December, we are offering free Cycle Training for young people and members of their households; organised Social Rides and Community Mechanics courses across Oxford.
Please check out all the events below and share widely.
Cycle Training
Broken Spoke has collaborated with Ready Set Go to offer free cycle training for the young people of Oxford and members of their households.
The levels of training are:
- Level 1a – Taught at an off-the-road location, you will learn how to steer and balance on a bicycle.
- Level 1b – Still taught off the road, you will learn the skills to control and master the bicycle, ready to move on to level 2.
- Level 2 – You will get out on the roads! Level 2 gives you a real cycling experience so that you are able to deal with quiet roads and/or short journeys.
- Level 3 – You will learn the skills to tackle a wider variety of traffic conditions. When you reach level 3 standard you will be able to deal with all types of road conditions and more challenging traffic situations.
Whether you and your family want to learn to ride a bike, or give your skills a brush-up, our cycle instructors are highly qualified and will tailor each session to your needs, helping you gain the confidence to ride happily, safely, and comfortably on the roads. Please contact ellie@oxfordhub.org for more information and the code to book your place.
Social Rides
Family Friendly Social Rides are scheduled with JoyRiders Oxford to explore quieter and safer routes whilst building confidence as cyclists.
Please see below for the schedule of rides. Each route is carefully considered and informed by the needs and preferences of the participants, such as safe journeys to local schools and parks. We fully welcome suggestions and ideas from the community, so please contact oxford@joyriders.org.uk for more information and share ideas.
| Date | Starting Location (10 am*) | Link to booking |
| 22nd Oct | Rose Hill Community Centre (Black History Month event (BBL CC)) | Book Here |
| 29th Oct | Blackbird Leys Park (Halloween Ride) | Book Here |
| 12th Nov | Barton (connect with Marston starting point) | Book Here |
| 19th Nov | Blackbird Leys Park (River Ride) | Book Here |
| 26th Nov | Blackbird Leys Park (connect with Florence Park starting point) | Book Here |
| 3rd Dec | Marston (to city centre for Christmas lights) | Book Here |
| 10th Dec | Florence Park (to city centre for Christmas lights) | Book Here |
Community Mechanics
The Broken Spoke is partnering with various organisations to facilitate mechanics for kids sessions.
There sessions are suitable for kids aged 7-11 years old. No previous experience is needed – just an interest in two wheels. This is a great opportunity to learn to fix parts of a bike all through play-based learning.
“When The Children’s Allotment was first envisioned, we always wanted it to be a creative learning space where children were empowered to use tools safely and confidently!”
Alice, The Children’s Allotment
| Course Dates* | Location | Link to Book |
| Oct 13th, 20th | Children’s Allotment, Florence Park | https://bookwhen.com/thechildrensallotment |
| Oct 30th 11 am – 2 pm | Blackbird Leys Community Centre | Drop-in |
| Nov 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th | Children’s Allotment, Florence Park | https://bookwhen.com/thechildrensallotment |
Please contact info@bsbcoop.org for further information.
