From desk chair to two wheels: Janet’s return to cycling

During the summer holidays, Barmulloch Community Development Company (BCDC) asked our Connecting Communities team to bring some cycling fun to their visiting youth club. Eight young people aged 13–15, plus two staff, signed up to give it a go.

We began with a basic bike maintenance workshop, then a short group ride through the park to get everyone comfortable before riding on quiet roads. 

The following day we cycled together to Hogganfield Loch for a picnic, supported by two experienced ride leaders.

Janet, a member of the BCDC staff team who usually works at a desk, joined both sessions. It was partly part of her job, but also a chance to get back on a bike after a long break. 

The ride to Hogganfield Loch was her first time cycling on roads and using nearby cycling infrastructure, so it felt like a big step.

The maintenance session went down well. Learning to do basic safety checks and pump up tyres gave everyone a hands-on way to look after their bikes. 

But the ride to the loch was the real highlight. Riding in a group with two trained leaders made Janet feel safe and supported, and helped take away some of her fear of cycling on the road.

Cycling on quiet roads is actually not that bad, and it took the fear away a bit. It makes me happy and puts a smile on my face

 

When the group returned, the energy was electric. One young person summed it up perfectly:

I wish we could do this every day!

 

The impact didn’t stop there. Two girls from the youth club borrowed bikes from the project so they could keep riding locally during the holidays. That led to a follow-up on-road session focusing on road position, observation and staying safe in traffic.

It was great to learn more about road safety and what to look out for when riding on roads. We didn’t get a chance to do Bikeability because of the pandemic

 

For Janet, taking part has sparked a longer-term change. She now plans to loan a bike from our project, start cycling to work and use her bike for shorter everyday journeys. She’s also keen to ride with her daughter, who loves cycling, and try out the new segregated cycle lane near where they live.

Getting back on a bike reminded me how much fun it is. It put a big smile on my face and gave me a real sense of achievement. Cycling is better for my health, I’m hoping it’ll help me lose weight, and it’s something I can share with my daughter

 

Janet says having two supportive, experienced ride leaders made all the difference, from building confidence on the roads to learning simple maintenance skills she can now use at home. 

What began as “just part of work” has helped her rediscover the joy of cycling and set new goals for the months ahead. 

In partnership with Glasgow City Council this project is supported by funding from Transport Scotland through the People and Place Programme.