Children living in Hunslet, Beeston and Holbeck have the chance to ride a bike for free following the launch of a new Yorkshire Bank Bike Library.
The new library has opened at the Dewsbury Road One Stop Centre and will offer free bike loans for children and families. It follows the opening last month of a bike library at St George’s Centre in Middleton.
The scheme is sponsored by Yorkshire Bank and run in collaboration with Welcome to Yorkshire’s cycling initiative, Cycle Yorkshire. It aims to give every child in Yorkshire access to a bike, and sees unwanted bikes donated at one of the county’s 46 donation stations, where they are then repaired and available to hire free of charge.
The new bike library was officially opened on Tuesday (20 September 2016) by former professional cyclist Dean Downing, and Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Communities.
Speaking at the opening, Dean Downing said:
“I’m very excited to be involved in this project as part of the legacy of the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire.”
Addressing the children from New Bewerley Community School he said:
“It’s great to see you in your kit. Enjoy your cycling, it can give you a lot freedom and a lot of pleasure and you can aspire to be the next champion.”
Cllr Debra Coupar said:
“Families can now borrow a bike as easily as borrowing a book. Evidence from existing bike libraries shows that families are taking the opportunity to borrow bikes for days out together.”
Opening times for the bike library at Dewsbury Road One Stop Centre are:
- Monday 9 – 3
- Tuesday 9 – 3
- Wednesday 9 – 3
- Thursday 9 – 4
- Friday 9 – 4
- Saturday 10.30 – 12.30 (via the Library)
If you have an old bike you could donate you can drop it off at the Middleton Bike Hub at the former golf clubhouse on Ring road Middleton, or in the city centre at the Great George Street One Stop Centre.
