3 Steps to Becoming a Confident Cyclist
Have you ever been stuck in traffic, or had to walk in the rain to campus and envied the cyclist speeding past? I know I have!
My name is Abi, and I am a final year BA Geography student and I hadn’t cycled in over 15 years. But during my placement with the Sustainability Service, I took it upon myself to get back on my bike and film the process. The thought of cycling in Leeds terrified me, so if I was able to get back on my bike, so can you!
Here is my 3 step process suitable for all levels of cyclists (even if you can’t cycle):
1. Build up cycling confidence at free, local cycling lessons
15 years is a long time. The last time I was on a bike, I was 6 years old! So I headed Potternewton Park to a West Yorkshire Combined Authority's free Adult Cycling Lesson, run by Cycle North. This was a supportive session filled with people of all abilities, from complete beginners, to people looking to build up their confidence.
Paul, the cycling instructor, provided me with a bike and helmet, and we started by rolling down a steady slope to get used to balancing, but I was peddling in no time and so were others who joined the session as complete beginners!
Then, I started practicing raising my arm and indicating to mimic turning corners, as well as weaving in and out of cones - gaining more confidence in my cycling abilities!
If you can cycle, but struggle with navigating the roads, Cycle North also offers further support through road sessions, taking you onto quiet streets and helping you navigate roads. They also offer free 1-1 support for students and will help you cycle specific routes you want to get better on (perhaps your commute to campus), as well as helping find and plan the best routes for you!
2. Rent a bike from the Bike Hub
Once I was able to cycle, I visited Romain and Robyn - our friendly Bike Hub staff - to rent a university bike. This was a smooth process and Romain soon showed me the ropes- including a refresher on how to use the gears, lights and how to lock the bike (you will be provided with a D lock for the bike and can buy a helmet at the Bike Hub).
Bike Hub bikes are great for efficient, cheap transport! It costs £22 (plus £100 deposit) to hire the bike for 3 months, which you can choose to renew if you are enjoying having the bike!
To hire a bike, simply visit the Bike Hub during opening hours - no appointment is needed and you can usually take your bike away on the same day!
Try a Beryl Bike
If you don't want to hire a bike from the Bike Hub, you can always try out the Beryl Bikes, which can be found on campus!
The distinctive yellow and grey electric bikes are available to hire by the minute through an app. They are designed to help more people to cycle shorter journeys, reducing congestion and encouraging active travel.
Docking stations have now been installed on the University of Leeds campus, with locations including near the Roger Stevens building, outside the Parkinson Building, Central Village and at the southern entrance to campus near the Nexus building.
As a student, you can get a 25% student discount on minute bundles. This means you can get 100 minutes of cycling for £12 or 50 minutes for £6, if you sign up with your student e-mail address!
3. Cycle into campus with a buddy!
Now that I can cycle, I have started cycling to campus!
Leeds has plenty of cycle paths, but until I become more confident, I have been cycling with some friends!
Learning to cycle has been such a rewarding journey and I really do feel like I am doing my bit for the environment, as well as my own health. Cycling to campus has also been much quicker than waiting for public transport or walking (so I don't have an excuse to be late for lectures now) - and most importantly, if I can get back on my bike, so can you!
If you have any further questions on cycling in Leeds, don't hesitate to email sustainability@leeds.ac.uk!
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our Active Travel work is linked to the following SDGs:
- Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 13: Climate Action
Find out more about our impact on the SDGs.
