Hull’s Adult Cycling Training Program Experiences Significant Increase in Participation

Hull City Council has announced that an adult cycle training initiative has witnessed a threefold rise in the number of individuals taking part. The “Rusty Riders” program is designed for people who have not ridden a bicycle for an extended period. This year, 77 participants joined the program, an increase from 28 participants in 2023. Mark Ieronimo, the councillor responsible for transport, stated that the scheme aims to encourage people to “make journeys actively and sustainably.” He elaborated, “One of the barriers that many people face in relation to cycling is that they know how to ride a cycle but might not have done so in a while.” He added that “Rusty Riders offers a safe setting to brush up on those skills and become more confident and hopefully it acts as a starting point for riding more often, whether that be for leisure, to run local errands or for the daily commute.” Each session lasts approximately two-and-a-half hours and is conducted by a fully qualified instructor. Participants receive instruction on cycling on public roads and how to utilize the off-road cycle network. Reservations for sessions scheduled to begin next year can be made via the city council website.