Enjoying a family bike ride with Sky Ride Local
A child friendly Leeds means making Leeds a place where children and young people, and their families are able to get out and get active! After the excitement of the Grand Départ, more people in Leeds are keen to get out on their bicycles and Sky Rides are a great way for families to do this.
Today we hear from Jessica Tulit who recently attended a Sky Ride Local about what she enjoyed about Sky Ride and how cycling is a great way to have fun and get active…
On Sunday 27th July I joined the Sky Ride Local from Kippax to RSPB St Aidans. I was only visiting the area and it was great to see what it had to offer!
As we cycled along ‘The Lines Way’ I had no idea that the beautiful RSPB St Aiden’s Nature Reserve was around the corner. As a frequent cyclist it was just nice to be out riding with others, meeting lovely new people and hearing how they hoped to start cycling more. One couple on the ride lived a couple of miles from the lovely reed beds and abundance of wildlife at the RSPB site, yet did not know it was there. They seemed eager to cycle there more often as well as start walking there with their dogs.
I also rode and chatted with a father and three sons who really enjoyed some active family time, with the kids learning more about checking if their bike is safe to ride and how to ride safely on the road as well as being mindful on off road path sections. At the end of the ride, everyone really seemed to have enjoyed themselves and I heard more than one person talk about how good it would be to make cycling more of a part of their lives. The atmosphere was very chilled with no rush or competitive edge, perfect for the route and also for new and less confident riders.
After a scenic ride next to a river, we were back to Kippax leisure centre, all hoping to do another Sky Ride Local soon and keen to recommend them to friends and family.
Sky Ride Local is a partnership between British Cycling and Sky and consists of guided bike rides led by British Cycling trained ride leaders along pre planned cycle routes. They run every Sunday until 21 September and are a great way for families to see their local area by bike.
To find out more about Sky Ride Local and details of all rides in your area go to www.goskyride.com/Leeds, or why not tell us your Sky Ride or cycling story in a comment below…
