Bike Buddy

 
Ever thought about cycling to work but lack confidence?
Confused about equipment?
Need a little support in getting started?
Unsure of the best route to take?
If so, then the Bike Buddy Scheme could be right up your street!
 
The Bike Buddy Scheme is a FREE service for local residents helping new and returning cyclists to get to grips with cycling by helping them to find a suitable route from their home to work.
 
The Bike Buddies are all experienced cyclists with a local good knowledge and able to map out the most suitable route for any required journey, whether it be to work, the supermarket or health centre.
 
Buddies will also able to give information on the local cycle network, to give tips on riding safely in traffic, varying environments and weather conditions and offer advice on equipment, accessories and basic bike maintenance.
 
 

It’s so easy, and in just a few single steps you could be pedaling away!

 
Step 1:
Read the Bike Buddy flyer (see below)
 
Step 2:
Contact the CDT Team (see below)
 
Step 3:
Complete our questionnaire asking a few basic questions about your cycling ability and experience.
 
Step 4:
We match you with a buddy who will contact you by phone or by email to discuss your requirements and arrange a convenient time and date to meet up to undertale your journey.
 
Step 5:
You're now a more confident and happy cyclist.
 
 

More Information

If you are interested in joining the scheme, simply contact us by:
calling 01524 582616 / 582392
in writing to Bike Buddy, Lancaster City Council, Morecambe Town Hall, Marine Road, Morecambe, LA4 5AF
 
 

Feedback

July 2008
Katy Thorpe - Lancaster University
"The bike buddy service was fantastic, I cannot sing it’s praises enough. I contacted them as a nervous cyclist who hadn’t ridden for over ten years, and ended up feeling so confident about riding that a month on, I’ve decided to sell my car and use the bike as my main mode of transport.
 
My buddy was informative, skilled, friendly, and very patient. Together we found a comfortable route from my house to work, and travelled there and back so I knew exactly what to look out for on the way. I really would recommend this service to anyone."
 
 
June 2008
Rakesh Raveendran Nair who works in Lancaster and recently used the Bike Buddy scheme, said: "My bike buddy, Dave Horton really helped me to learn the routes. He was punctual and he was very generous in providing any help that’s possible. I am really pleased with his work and I would strongly recommend this scheme to others."
 
2006
Matt Donlan, reporter for The Citizen newspaper, uses the Free Bike Buddy Service to help him cycle from Lancaster to Morecambe Town Hall.
 
Matt, who was shown the way by Bike Buddy and local cycle expert John Leach, had this to say about his experience:

“Honestly I last rode a bike when I was 11…and that’s more than a few years ago. But I must confess that cycling around an area the size of Lancaster and Morecambe sounded like a great idea.

With bike buddy, John Leach on hand for advice, my first outing to Morecambe Town Hall took less than 30 minutes…Riding straight along the cycle track into Morecambe was scenic, pleasant and easy- and so was the return journey. “ 

 

Meet our Bike Buddies

Neil Emery
Without a doubt, cycling is the best way to get around the district.  Even after several years of using my bike to get to work and using it for site visits, I’m still surprised how quickly I get to places in comparison to the car or even public transport. 

I can understand reservations people have about cycling, be it a lack of confidence, what equipment is needed and so on.  However, I like to think that as a Bike Buddy, I can demonstrate the how easy it can be for a bike to play an integral role in catering for peoples travelling needs.

Most people are aware of the various advantages such as saving money, helping the environment and keeping healthy, but the real reason for me it that it is a fun way of seeing the world and I hope, through the Bike Buddy Scheme that I can convey this enjoyable aspect to others.
 
 
 
Dave Horton
I love cycling. On a bike you get a fresh perspective. The world becomes different. I'd like more people to find out for themselves the joys which come from cycling.
 
As a bike buddy, I'm very happy to do my bit to encourage other people to try cycling. After all, like anything, it takes a while to gain cycling confidence, to learn the best ways of doing things, to find the best routes. Bike Buddies help with that process. We're here to gently help you on your way. And really, the rewards which come from living a bit of your life on a bike are priceless.
 
Not only that, with each extra journey made by bike, the world becomes a better place. The way the world opens up to you from a bike, it's got to be worth a try.
 
 
 
 
John Leach
I returned to cycling when we had small children, a hefty mortgage, one car and one income. I needed to travel to work and my wife had to get young children to different activities at various times at many locations throughout the day. The only rational option was for her to have the car.
 
The journey by bike took half an hour when I started and rapidly decreased as I recovered some of my earlier fitness and I calculated that I would save the cost of the (expensive) bike after 114 days. This also gave me freedom from the restriction of the train timetable! Further I had a bike I could only dream about as a lad.

In and around Lancaster and Morecambe cycling gives me freedom that is denied to me when I drive. It takes a mere 15 minutes from Hest Bank to the RLI and even less to Dalton Square when I go shopping in Lancaster. Lancaster to Morecambe takes only 10 minutes. Other residents of Slyne-with-Hest tell me it takes 40 minutes to drive into Lancaster!

I am fit because I cycle. I know because I endured several weeks of pain and relative exhaustion when I returned to cycling as an adult. For decades I have enjoyed the exhilaration and freedom of moving swiftly from one place to another.
 
 
 
Sue Holden
There are probably more bikes than cars in our district - only most of the bikes are rusting away at the back of sheds! The bike buddy scheme helps people turn their good intentions to ride into a reality.
 
Once someone books a bike buddy, they get the momentum to dust off their bike, and by doing the ride they gain the confidence to get pedalling when ever they fancy it.