The council says it is committed to helping anyone learn to cycle – including Southwark’s Deputy Mayor, who said she had ‘never ridden a bike before.’
In the last few months, more than 1,800 residents have taken part in Southwark Council’s free cycling lessons, which is part of their commitment to helping people find alternative ways to travel.
Now, Deputy Mayor, Cllr Naima Ali, has given them a try, marking her first time ever on a bike.
Cllr Ali said: “I never had the opportunity to learn or ride a bicycle as a child; walking was our main way of getting around.
“There was also a stigma surrounding women cycling, driven by largely conservative views. I want to break the taboos and empower and encourage other women in the community to know it’s possible.
After pedalling for the first time, Cllr Ali commented that she felt ‘free and exhilarated’: “At first I was scared and doubted if I could even balance while cycling but surprisingly within the first 30mins I was able to peddle and ride a bit.
“I did enjoy my first session and have booked myself onto some more – I can’t wait to see myself riding around Southwark.”
The cycling lessons are open to all and include training tailored for women and girls, families, older people and people with disabilities.
Residents can borrow a bike, whilst learning from qualified instructors. They are part of the council’s Streets for People initiative, which sets out plans to improve air quality, by moving away from favouring cars to free up more space for walking, cycling, and public transport.
Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Clean Air and Streets, said: “We know that more people want to cycle but aren’t confident enough so this training has been set up specifically for them.
“They’re ideal for people who are new to cycling, or those who rode a bike when they were younger and want to get back into cycling.
“Our Streets for People strategy sets out a bold vision and a firm commitment to improve our residents’ quality of life and take action on climate change, by changing how we all travel and use streets in our borough.
“Streets for People supports cleaner air; safer and quieter streets with less traffic and fewer accidents and healthy travel options like walking, cycling or wheeling.”
To find out more about how to get involved in the lessons click here.
As part of Streets for People, the council is asking residents about the changes they would like to see in their neighbourhoods. Click here to complete the survey.