Road safety - cycling initiatives

People in St Helens are being invited to take part in a series of FREE local cycling courses, running throughout the year. The courses are organised by St Helens Council's Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team in partnership with the Health Improvement Team, Travelwise Merseyside and Cycling Solutions. This initiative has been funded through Target Wellbeing Lottery funding.

There are two initiatives on offer:

• Cycle for Health
• Cycling Enabling

Cycle for Health is designed to help people get active - even those who have never cycled before. There are three levels of Cycle for Health courses, starting with gentle rides for absolute beginners through to longer rides for more experienced cyclists. These instructor-led cycle rides are carefully routed to help those who are feeling a bit rusty to build up their confidence.

Cycle for Health rides are currently running weekly at the following venues:

• Every Tuesday, 1.00 - 3.30pm at Sutton Manor  (meet at Four Ways Childrens Centre, Burnage Avenue, off Chester Lane)

• Every Wednesday, 1.00 - 3.30pm at Sankey Valley Country Park, Haydock  (meet at Sankey Valley Visitors Centre, off Blackbrook Road)

Bikes and helmets are provided free of charge.

You will require a free health check prior to attending a ride. Arrange an appointment today by calling your local Health Improvement Team on 01744 697432.

For further information please contact Samantha Abernethy, Road Safety Officer, on 01744 671656 or email samanthaabernethy@sthelens.gov.uk  

As part of the same initiative there is a range of free Cycling Enabling courses taking place around St Helens. These sessions will deal with general bike maintenance, from regular safety checks like testing the brakes to guidance on easy repairs, such as mending punctures. 

You will learn:

• How a bicycle works
• How to set it up for maximum comfort
• How to fix a flat tyre
• How to adjust brakes for maximum effectiveness
• How to keep your gears changing smoothly and accurately  

These free Bicycle Maintenance Courses are designed to enable people to fix their bicycles, give confidence when riding and being able to cope if you break down. The workshops are aimed at people with little or no mechanical knowledge, and are fun and informative! Plus if you bring along your own bike, our qualified mechanics are more than happy to give your bike a free safety check.

Courses run for two hours in a morning or afternoon, over a period of two consecutive weeks, and are open to anyone from the age of 9 years and upward. There are currently three venues up and running across St Helens: 

• St Luke's C of E Church, Knowsley Road, Eccleston > Tuesdays, 10.00 - 12 noon
• St Ann's Millennium Centre, View Road, Rainhill > Wednesdays, 6.30 - 8.30pm
• Rainford Scout Group, Church Road, Rainford > Thursdays, 6.00 - 8.00pm

For further details of when our Eco-friendly electric van is in your area and to book a place on the course, please contact Samantha Abernethy, Road Safety Officer, on 01744 671656 or email samanthaabernethy@sthelens.gov.uk