blog.gov.jeCycling more as part of your everyday life can help save you money and improve your mental and physical health at the same time. It’s also a more sustainable mode of transport, which in some cases can be quicker than going by car (hello morning commute).
The month of May is Bike Month, a perfect time to get back onto two wheels while the weather is warmer and the days are longer.
During the month there are a range of activities planned to celebrate the humble bicycle and help more people get pedalling.
Here are some ways you can get involved:
- Try out a bike for free
Whether you have recently been awarded an e-bike grant, or you are simply curious about e-bikes, cargo bikes and cycling in general, you have a chance each month until September to try a bike for free.
Pop down to one of our try a bike events to test ride a bike in a low pressure, relaxed environment. The next events are:
Saturday 20 April, 1-3pm at Les Quennevais Cycle track
Bicycle Workshop, Powerhouse and Evolution Cycles will have a range of different bikes to try. MoveMore Jersey will also have their adaptive cycles available to try, and will be on hand to talk about their free adult cycling programmes.
Tuesday 21 May, 12-2pm at Les Jardins De La Mer
Evolution Cycles will have a range of e-bikes and cargo bikes to try. MoveMore Jersey will also be available to talk about their adult cycling programmes and Cycle Without Limits.
2. Join the Bike Month Challenge
Love to Ride is back for 2024, with the first challenge running during May. Each time you ride your bike, every mile you ride, and every person you encourage in the month will earn you points. The more points you earn, the more chances you will have to win bike month challenge prizes in the national competition.
Workplaces and schools can take part in a friendly competition and try to top the local leaderboards too!
Simply sign up at lovetoride.net/jersey, download the app (or log your rides manually) and get riding.
- Rate routes on the Love to Ride app
You can give feedback about how comfortable your biking routes are. Love to Ride are launching a new feature on their app to enable you to give anonymous feedback about your local biking journeys.
This data will help paint a picture of what biking looks like in our community, and could help inform future infrastructure improvements.
4. Keep an eye out for more pop-up bike clinics
Our free bike clinics have proved to be hugely popular and sold out within a few days of launching but we are looking to run more, so watch this space.
At these events, you can get your bike checked over by a qualified bike mechanic, who will make any simple adjustments there and then, and advise you if you should get any other work done on your bike.
The clinics are running on 17 and 23 April in St Helier. All bookable slots are now reserved but walk-ins will be accepted on the day if space becomes available. This will be first come first served and is not guaranteed.
- Join in with Alternative Transport Week’s Family Ride Out
On Sunday 19 May, kicking off Alternative Transport Week is the Family Ride Out. Ride with other families from Royal Square to Millennium Park. The ride is open for all ages and abilities, travelling on main roads but all within the 20mph speed limit.
There will be a mini ‘after party’ at Millennium Park including an ice cream bike and ‘helmet hair’ pop-up salon run by Highlands College Hair and Beauty students.