Inclusive cycling and walking
Inclusive walking, wheeling
& cycling
Greater Manchester's Active Travel Commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey, has committed to making our active travel programme universally accessible, and we want to make sure that we remove all barriers to participation, whether physical or attitudinal. TfGM wants to create experiences for everyone to enjoy the benefits of going for a walk, a ride or a wheel. We work with a variety of partners to help provide equipment and resources so that anyone can join in.
Bike Buddy
TfGM are working in partnership with Wheels for All to deliver a GM pilot of 'Bike Buddy' - an adaptive cycling programme developed by the charity.
The ‘Bike Buddy’ programme aims to give disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and older-aged people the confidence and skills to use adapted cycles as part of their everyday lives, to keep active and to get around their communities – right from their front door or from the settings of their support organisation.
Several organisations from across the region have expressed their interest in taking part in the programme and successful applicants will be announced shortly.
Opportunities to ride
Access BMX
BMX sessions hosted at the National Cycling Centre on Tuesday evenings from 6pm to 7pm. These sessions are for riders with a disability, with a range of bikes available such as hand cycles, trikes and BMX bikes – all of which can be used on the BMX track. They welcome everyone aged 7+.
Bury Tandem Club
Bury Tandem Club for Blind and Partially Sighted People is a Cycling UK affiliated group who support visually impaired people from across Greater Manchester.
Go to Bury Tandem Club's webpage.
Cycling Without Age
A movement designed to reach elders, people with reduced mobility and people feeling isolated.
Go to Cycling Without Age's website.
Get Cycling with the new Inclusive Cycling Experience
The Inclusive Cycling Experience offers free non-standard cycle loans and sessions to disabled people in Greater Manchester. The scheme aims to break down barriers to cycling for people disabled by such things as their environment, age, medical conditions or mental health. After an initial taster session, you can loan a cycle for free, from one day, to a whole month!
Learn more about the Inclusive Cycling Experience (external link).
Seashell Trust
Seashell Trust is a leading Disability Services & Support Organisation. They have a brand new learn to ride track for cycle learners / adapted bicycles on site in Stockport.
Go to Seashell Trust's website.
Simply Cycling
Simply Cycling offer inclusive cycling and adapted cycle sessions at various locations across Greater Manchester. Price start from £3 per person for a 45-minute session. Options for 1-2-1 sessions are also available.
Learn more about Simply Cycling.
Supportability Wheelers
Project that offers weekly cycling opportunities throughout the year for disabled and able-bodied adults, children & young people. The Project has a variety of adapted cycles to enable individuals of all abilities to experience and enjoy cycling.
Over the past few years the project has supported nearly 400 disabled adults and 125 disabled children at Woodbank Park in Stockport. This is where UK Para-cycling Champion Katie Toft, who has Cerebral Palsy, started her cycling days.
Go to Supportability Wheelers' website.
Wheels For All
Wheels for All help people learn how to cycle on adaptive cycles in a traffic-free environment at selected locations around Greater Manchester. You can also build confidence and skills through the Bike Buddy programme.
For more information, visit Wheels for All's website or email hello@cycling.org.uk or call 0161 926 628.
Walking support
GM Moving
Greater Manchester Moving is GM’s movement for movement, working together to positively change the lives of people across Greater Manchester through physical activity and sport.
Sustrans
Sustrans is a charity that makes it easier for more people to walk and cycle. They believe everyone should have the right to walk and wheel and feel safe, comfortable, and welcome while doing so.
Living Streets
Living Streets is a UK charity for everyday walking. They want a nation where walking is the natural choice for everyday local journeys.
Read Living Streets' guide for inclusive walking in cities and towns.
Advice on cycling with a disability
There is a range of guidance and advice available on cycling with a disability, including how to buy an adaptive bicycle.
Resources and support
British Blind Sport
British Cycling Disability Hubs are sessions delivered monthly at traffic-free facilities across the country to enable riders to have a fun, get fit and improve in a safe environment. Whether you are a complete novice, a seasoned rider, or somewhere in between, there is something on offer to meet your needs. A range of adapted bikes (including tandems and handcycles) are available for use during the session to support your riding.
Go to British Blind Sport's website.
British Cycling
British Cycling offer a workshop providing knowledge and practical experience to help you deliver activities to support more people with impairments and health conditions to get active in cycling.
Go to British Cycling's website.
Cycling UK
Cycling UK provides lots of on information on inclusive from guidance on adaptive cycles to stories from other cyclists.
Vitalise
Vitalise is a national disability charity providing breaks for disabled adults, children and their carers. They run several tandem holidays for visually impaired people every year. These holidays are aimed at beginners through to advanced cyclists and take place around the UK and Europe with occasional trips to more exotic locations around the world. Along with the visually impaired riders on these tandem holidays, they are always in need of sighted front riders. Full tandem training is offered on beginners' holidays.