Girls on Wheels

Cycle Derby has been successful in our recent bid to Sport Unlimited to get more girls cycling in Derby.
Research published in Cycling and Children and Young People, A review, Tim Gill, National Children's Bureau has shown that "Boys on average cycle 138 miles a year and girls 24 miles."

We wanted to show teenage girls that cycling is a brilliant way to get around and keep fit! We aimed to find a way to highlight the benefits of cycling in a way which appeals to girls' interests. A fifth of term time rush hour traffic is created through children being driven to school. A lack of physical activity is associated with the growing levels of obesity in the U.K. These are important issues that cycling can provide a solution for.

The aim of our 'Girls on Wheels' scheme is to provide a series of fun sessions for secondary school girls to help overcome the negative images they have of cycling and to inspire and empower them to take up cycling to school.

We will be offering girls at Bemrose and Sinfin schools a ten week block of sessions. The first six hours will be learning the basic skills, playing games and developing bike handling skills to use on the road and in race situations. With the rest of the course we will cover Bikeability Level two to give girls the confidence to cycle to and from school. The girls will have a chance to go on trips to Carsington Water and Manchester Velodrome as well as taking part in Cycle Races.
Girls on Wheels gives positive messages to Year 7, 8 and 9 girls on the health and fitness benefits of cycling. To encourage the girls to see cycling as something not just for the boys they will all receive a 'Girls on Wheels' t-shirt as well as lip balm and a hair brush.
At the end of the 10 week scheme the girls will be encouraged to start a Bike Club at their school to continue enjoying cycling and spread the word to other girls at the school.