What is inclusive cycling?

What is inclusive cycling? 

Inclusive cycling is the practice of making cycling accessible, welcoming and achievable for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. 

It focuses on removing physical, social and systemic barriers so more people can benefit from the freedom, independence and wellbeing that cycling provides. 

Who can benefit from inclusive cycling?

Inclusive cycling is for anyone who faces barriers to “standard” cycling, and for many people, the right cycle, environment and support can make cycling possible (or enjoyable) again.

People who may benefit include:

• Disabled people with physical, sensory, learning or cognitive impairments — whether lifelong, acquired, visible or non-visible.
• People with long-term health conditions (for example arthritis, chronic pain, MS, Parkinson’s, heart and lung conditions) who may need extra stability, support, pacing or confidence.
• Neurodivergent people who may benefit from structured support, predictable routes, quieter spaces, and cycles that feel safer or easier to control.
• People with balance, coordination or fatigue challenges, including those recovering from illness, injury or surgery.
• Older people who want to keep active and independent, but prefer added stability, step-through frames, or supportive seating.
• People with sight loss or hearing loss, who may cycle using adapted cycles, tandem/partnered cycles, or in settings designed for confidence and communication.
• People who can’t ride a two-wheeled bicycle comfortably for any reason — including those who never learned to ride, or who lost confidence after a fall.

Inclusive cycling isn’t a niche add-on. It’s simply making cycling possible for more people, more of the time, with the right choices around cycles, spaces, support and culture.

Want to see what inclusive cycling could look like for you (or someone you support)? Cycling UK’s Inclusive Cycling Experience programme offers free try-out sessions and non-standard cycle loans to help disabled people explore cycling for everyday journeys. Funded by the Motability Foundation, it supports disabled communities in Greater Manchester and Inverness.

What are the barriers to inclusive cycling?

Barriers to inclusive cycling are rarely about motivation. They’re often practical, environmental, financial or cultural, and they can stack up.

Common barriers include:

• Lack of suitable equipment
  • Not knowing what cycle might work best
  • Limited opportunities to try before committing
  • Shortage of adapted cycle hire schemes or storage options
• Confidence and skills support
  • Few inclusive training options (or instructors without experience adapting sessions)
  • Limited guidance on road confidence, route planning, or cycling with assistance dogs or mobility aids
• Attitudes and awareness
  • Assumptions about who cycling is “for”
  • Lack of visibility of disabled cyclists in marketing and everyday cycling culture
  • People not recognising adaptive cycles as cycles, or misunderstanding who can use them
• Transport and access to cycling spaces
  • Getting to a safe place to ride can be difficult without a car
  • Public transport may not accommodate larger cycles easily
• Cost
  • Many adaptive cycles cost significantly more than standard bikes
  • Additional costs (maintenance, specialist parts, insurance, secure storage, transport)
• Inaccessible infrastructure
  • Narrow or chicane-style barriers that block wider cycles
  • Surfaces that are uneven, poorly maintained or hard to roll over
  • Steep gradients, fast junctions, and a lack of safe crossings
  • Poor lighting or unclear wayfinding

Removing barriers usually takes a combination of changes, not just “better cycling lanes” or “more bikes”, but an approach that considers real lived experience from the start.

Many barriers to cycling are practical but the right support can make a real difference. Through Cycling UK’s Inclusive Cycling Experience, disabled people in Greater Manchester and Inverness can access free try-out sessions and non-standard cycle loans, making it easier to find a setup that works and build confidence for everyday travel. 

Types of non-standard and inclusive cycles

There’s no single “inclusive cycle”. The best option depends on comfort, control, stability, fatigue, strength, coordination, confidence, and where someone wants to ride.

Here are some common types:

• Tricycles (upright trikes)
  • Provide stability at low speeds and when stopping/starting
  • Useful for people with balance issues or confidence concerns
• Recumbent trikes and recumbent cycles
  • Lower seating position with back support
  • Can reduce strain on joints and improve comfort for longer rides
• Handcycles
  • Powered by the arms rather than legs
  • Can be a great option for wheelchair users or people with limited leg function
• Tandems and partner cycles
  • Two people ride together, which can support people with sight loss, learning disabilities, or confidence barriers
  • Includes side-by-side and front-back configurations
• E-assist cycles (e-bikes and e-assist trikes/handcycles)
  • Support with hills, headwinds, fatigue, and longer distances
  • Helpful where energy levels fluctuate or where terrain is a barrier
• Cycles with step-through frames
  • Easier to mount and dismount
  • Can support people with limited flexibility or strength
• Cycles with additional support
  • Backrests, harnesses, trunk supports, or specialist seating
  • Adapted controls (one-handed braking, altered gearing, steering aids)
• Cargo cycles and cycles with carrying adaptations
  • Useful for transporting mobility aids, equipment, or shopping
  • Can support independence for everyday journeys

A key principle is choice: inclusive cycling works best when people can try different options, get expert guidance, and build confidence at their own pace.

Not sure what type of cycle might work best? Trying options is often the quickest way to find out. Cycling UK’s Inclusive Cycling Experience supports disabled communities in Greater Manchester and Inverness with free try-out sessions and non-standard cycle loans, so people can explore different cycle types and consider cycling for everyday journeys.

Why inclusive cycling matters

Inclusive cycling matters because access to movement, independence, and public space shouldn’t be limited by disability, or by how well our streets and services support different bodies and needs.

When cycling is designed to include disabled people, it benefits everyone: safer routes, calmer spaces, better information, and a wider range of cycle options make cycling more practical for many people, including families, older people and those new to cycling.

Inclusive cycling also helps shift perceptions. Disabled people already cycle in many different ways; seeing that reflected in everyday cycling culture makes cycling feel more welcoming and normal for more people.

Health and wellbeing benefits

Cycling can support physical and mental wellbeing in ways that are flexible and enjoyable. Inclusive cycling can:

• Provide low-impact movement that’s gentle on joints
• Support cardiovascular fitness at a pace that suits the rider
• Help with strength, coordination and balance (where appropriate)
• Boost mood and confidence, especially when someone has faced barriers to being active
• Offer an outdoor activity that can reduce stress and improve sleep

Crucially, adaptive cycling can be tailored, whether that means shorter rides, more stable cycles, e-assist support, or traffic-free spaces.

Social inclusion

Cycling can be a social activity, and inclusive cycling can reduce isolation by creating more ways to take part.

Inclusive programmes and spaces can:

• Create welcoming group activities with shared purpose
• Offer social connection without pressure to “keep up”
• Make it easier for disabled people to join family or community rides
• Build belonging through shared experiences and peer support

When social cycling is designed inclusively, more people can participate confidently, not just those who already feel comfortable in typical cycling environments.

Independence and mobility

For some people, a non-standard cycle isn’t just for recreation, it’s a way to travel.

Inclusive cycling can support:

• Everyday journeys to shops, appointments or social activities
• Independent travel where walking long distances is difficult
• Greater access to local areas without needing a car or relying on lifts
• Confidence in navigating neighbourhoods and public space

E-assist can be particularly enabling here, helping riders manage hills, distance and fatigue so cycling becomes a practical option.

Reducing inequality

Disabled people face disproportionate barriers to active travel and physical activity, from inaccessible streets to limited equipment and fewer local opportunities.

Inclusive cycling can help reduce inequality by:

• Expanding access to affordable, local activity
• Supporting participation in public life and community spaces
• Challenging assumptions about who cycling is for
• Making transport options more equitable

But this only happens when inclusion is designed in, not added on afterwards.

Inclusive cycling becomes real when people can access the right cycle and support locally. Cycling UK’s Inclusive Cycling Experience is helping disabled communities in Greater Manchester and Inverness start cycling through free try-out sessions and non-standard cycle loans, with a focus on everyday journeys and active travel.

What makes cycling spaces and programmes inclusive?

Inclusive cycling spaces and programmes don’t rely on one feature. They’re built through thoughtful design, practical support, and a culture that welcomes people as they are.

The most inclusive approaches:

• Offer choice in cycles and routes
• Remove practical barriers (access, storage, information)
• Provide skilled, patient support
• Centre dignity, respect and autonomy
• Involve disabled people in shaping what’s provided

Accessible infrastructure

Infrastructure is inclusive when it works for a wide range of cycles and riders.

That can include:

• Step-free access and wide entrances
• Paths and routes that allow wider cycles to pass comfortably
• Good surfaces (smooth, consistent, well-maintained)
• Clear signage and legible wayfinding
• Safe crossings, slower traffic environments, and routes that minimise stressful junctions
• Seating and rest points, accessible toilets, and shelter where possible

A simple test is: can someone using a trike, handcycle or partner cycle move through the space easily, safely, and without needing to dismount or lift their cycle?

Inclusive training and support

Training becomes inclusive when it’s adapted to the person, not when the person is expected to fit a fixed lesson plan.

Good inclusive support often includes:

• Instructors who can adapt communication, pacing and goals
• Extra time for familiarisation and building trust
• Clear explanations and predictable session structure
• Support for riders who need help with mounting, dismounting, or positioning
• Progression that focuses on confidence and enjoyment, not just “skills targets”
• Opportunities for carers, friends or family to be involved where helpful

Support should always aim to build autonomy, giving people tools and confidence to ride in ways that suit them.

Equipment availability

Equipment access is often the difference between “cycling might be possible” and “cycling is part of my life”.

Inclusive programmes can improve access by offering:

• A range of non-standard cycles, along with various accessories and adaptions (not just one “accessible option”)
• Try-out sessions and expert guidance to find a good match
• Maintenance support and clear information about upkeep
• Storage solutions (especially for larger cycles)
• Hire, loan or referral routes to reduce cost barriers
• Partnerships with local inclusive cycling hubs, charities, and specialists

Even small details matter, like having pumps and tools that are easy to use, seating while adjusting equipment, and staff who understand different setups.

Inclusive culture

Culture is what makes people feel safe, welcome, and respected, and it’s as important as the physical environment.

An inclusive culture looks like:

• Staff and volunteers who are welcoming, patient, and trained
• Language and marketing that reflects disabled people cycling in different ways
• No assumptions about ability, speed, or what someone “should” be riding
• Respect for privacy and dignity (for example, asking before offering physical help)
• Clear, supportive policies for safeguarding, support needs, and accessibility feedback
• Listening to disabled cyclists and acting on what they say

In practice, inclusion is often felt in the small moments: being greeted warmly, having time to ask questions, seeing someone like you represented, and knowing you won’t be judged for needing a different cycle or more support.

Inclusive design is important, but so is inclusive opportunity. Cycling UK’s Inclusive Cycling Experience programme is putting inclusion into practice by offering free try-out sessions and non-standard cycle loans for disabled communities in Greater Manchester and Inverness, helping people see cycling as an option for everyday travel.