On Yer Bike catches the imagination in Durham

An imaginative cycling initiative piloted by Durham County Council last year proved so successful that it is to be extended to run across the whole of the county during 2002/2003.

‘On Yer Bike’ was launched in April 2001 in a particularly deprived area of Durham. The aim of the campaign was to increase cycle usage and by so doing improve the health of participants. "We recruited and trained volunteers to act as cycle marshals to take large groups of the public out on day-long cycle rides," explains Alan Kennedy, County Durham’s senior road safety officer. "We trained 12 riders and over the year they took nearly 300 people out to learn new cycle routes and visit places of interest."

On Yer Bike launched in April 2001 with two rides, each comprising around 20 cyclists. The cyclists rendezvoused at Easington Colliery - made famous by the film ‘Billy Elliot’. "The cyclists had a police escort and were accompanied up by an ensemble of unicyclists and other strange bikes, jugglers, fire eaters, clowns and Morris Dancers," Alan continues. "The party converged on the reclaimed site of the colliery - now a lovely village green - where there were tents and marquees housing exhibitors from local bike shops, councils and health promotion people."

There were also competitions and a treasure hunt to win On Yer Bike T-shirts and other cycling goodies and a tarmac area was coned off for people to try out the strange bikes and other more conventional cycles. In all, about 300 people attended the launch.

At the end of the campaign in October 2001, the council handed On Yer Bike to the local community. "The marshals now co-ordinate the rides and we support them by paying for the publicity, training new marshals and risk assessing routes," Alan continues. "The intention is that On Yer Bike will be an ongoing event with regular rides every month."

The council is currently running marshal courses for three further districts - Durham City, Chester-Le-Street and Derwentside. Rides will be organised in all three areas throughout the coming summer/autumn. On Yer Bike will then be extended to Sedgefield and Teesdale in 2003, by which time it will cover the whole of County Durham.

Alan Kennedy is very happy to talk to anyone who would like to find out more about On Yer Bike.
His contact details for further information are:-

Alan Kennedy
Senior Road Safety Officer
Road Safety Team
Environment and Technical Services
Durham County Council
Durham
DH1 1DA
Tel: 0191 383 3767
alan.kennedy@durham.gov.uk