Everything you need to know for women on the go

There is a new web site http://www.bikebelles.org.uk addressing cycling from the female point of view. The site is produced by Sustrans and provides information and features that helps to quash misconceptions and encourage more women to fall in love with cycling.

The site has practical sections on reasons for cycling, bike safety and information and support resources. It also has plenty of first hand advice coming from over a dozen "bike belles" who have different levels of experience cycling who share their views and experiences on the site.

There is often a view that cycling is something that mainly men in their 20s do. But quite startlingly women over 65 in the Netherlands ride three times the distance of 19 year old British men. And in the UK among women it is those between the ages of 35 and 44 who are most likely to cycle on a regular basis.

There are also quite a few female celebrities including Duffy, Hannah Montana and Madonna who have recently been recognised as keen cyclists. TV presenter and author, Dawn Porter, is also a supporter of women cycling saying "Reliable, low maintenance and helps you to look good - a girl's best friend has to be her bike".

Bike It

In early March, teachers in over forty schools in Bristol and South Gloucestershire were given a day of free workshops and advice as part of the Bike It programme run by Sustrans.

The Bike It project works with over 400 schools and over 60,000 children and young people across England and Wales. It works directly with pupils, parents and staff to help them overcome whatever it is that is preventing them from cycling to school – by organising cycle training, helping to install new bike sheds, contributing to classroom work and providing information about safe routes to schools. Participating schools across England have seen levels of cycling treble within a year– bucking the trend in declining numbers of children cycling to school. 


Council Calls for Cycling Services

Bristol City Council is looking for businesses or organisations that can offer services related to cycling. Services such as:

• run high-quality cycling events,
• organise and run bike repair workshops,
• devise and run education sessions for adults and children,
• develop other services to put the fun into cycling for people who've hardly ever or never ridden a bike.

Councillor Jon Rogers, Bristol's Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for organisations in the Greater Bristol area. We’ve got serious money to put into professionally-run events and services and want to hear from enthusiastic and committed businesses and other organsiations who can respond flexibly to the needs of the project.”

Please visit the Bristol e-Procurement System using this link and register
your organisation to receive notifications for work tenders. Questions or queries regarding the Bristol e-Procurement System to Kirsty Barrett on 0117 352 5097 or kirsty.barrett@bristol.gov.uk