It seems only yesterday that I was writing the review for 2008. The year of 2009 was another fast-paced year of development. Here are some of our successes...
Work with organisations
Cycling Site Audits
We produced several cycling audit reports for local and national organisations, aseessing and providing key recommendations to enable organisations to improve cycle storage, showering facilities and access at workplaces.
Green Travel Website
We created an innovative website for a national business with maps of facilities and detailed description of green travel routes to all their sites. One click and staff can see exactly how to get to work without their car!
Bike Week 2009
Another busy week of events for local workplaces. We held a Cycling in Safety event at Rolls-Royce to coincide with the launch of their extremely successful tax-free Cycle to work Scheme.
Work with individuals
Cycle Training base
Thanks to a grant from the Accessibility Project at Derbyshire County Council, we now have a cycle training base in Duffield next to a traffic-free area, where we regularly hold "learn to ride" sessions and hire bikes to new and returning cyclists.
Fix Your Bike Yourself Workshops
Our Fix your Bike Workshops for workplaces and the general public have been very popular, with most courses being fully booked.
Bike Restoration Project
We helped Wolf Cycle Tech to set up an exciting bike restoration project, whereby antique or classic bikes can be restored to their original glory.
Work with communities
Wheels in Motion Event in Langley Mill
We attended a Health Promotion Day in Langley Mill, focused on cycling, with a selection of bikes for locals to try-out, Dr Bike and regular bike rides run by our cycle trainers.
Belper Cycling Saturdays
We formed a partnership with a local outdoor store in Belper and held Cycling Saturdays throughout the summer with free cycling maps and information, free safety checks, tryouts, and bike hire.
Duffield Carnival and Erewash Canal Festival
We attended a couple of local festivals - the folding bikes were a real hit with young people!
Heanor and Shipley Country Park Cycling for Health
We ran a Cycling for Health project at Shipley Country Park in 2009. After promoting the health benefits of cycling in the local community, we offered free cycle training, bike hire, community bike rides and Dr Bike sessions during the Autumn.
Partnerships
In 2009, partnerships were at the heart of our work. Thank you to all those individuals and organisations who helped make our work possible, in particular, Steve of the Heart and Sole Group, Tracey and Jeannette, Derbyshire PCSOs, Andy at Derbyshire PCT, Paul of Wolf Cycle Tech, Rob at Four Seasons Outdoors, Clyde and David C from Sustrans, Sarah at the Appletree Medical Practice, Alastair and Rob from Derbyshire County Council, Hugh from Pedals, and Andrew and Danniella from Erewash Borough Council.
Volunteering
In 2009, we developed a successful volunteering programme. Martin is our Community Development volunteer and regularly helps with our regular e-newsletters. Rob is our new volunteer accountant and IT expert. Fabia, a design student from Derby University, helps with publicity materials.
The Future...
Individuals
We will continue to offer cycle training, bike maintenance workshops and bike hire.
Communities
We are currently actively looking for funding and/ or sponsorship to continue our community projects.
Organisations
We will continue to work with organisations to promote walking and cycling through travel plans and workplace health promotion, and support the introduction of the highly effective tax-free Cycle to work scheme.
Here's to many more revolutions in 2010!
Happy Cycling from
The Choose Cycling Team