Cycle Access Fund General Bike Buying FAQs
- What kind of bikes can the grant be used to buy?
- Can the grant be used to buy bikes for children and young people?
- Can the grant be used to buy new or secondhand bikes?
- How much can be spent per bike?
- Is there a maximum limit on the number of bikes that can be applied for?
- Can I buy separate personal protective equipment?
- Can Cycle Access Fund offer support to help grant applicants buy the right bikes?
1. What kind of bikes can the grant be used to buy?
Funding can be used to buy standard upright two-wheel cycles and/or non-standard cycles (including trikes, e-bikes and adaptive cycles) for people with health conditions or mobility needs. You will be asked for the reasoning behind your bike choice during the application process.
- We will fund bikes suitable for local journeys and leisure cycling.
- We will not fund full suspension mountain bikes, BMX and other bikes that are not practical for everyday journeys.
2. Can the grant be used to buy bikes for children and young people?
Yes, there is no age limit, but we ask that you gain permission from a parent or carer if you plan to purchase cycles for individuals who are under 16.
3. Can the grant be used to buy new or secondhand bikes?
The grant can be used to buy either new or refurbished secondhand bikes from a bike shop or bike recycling project.
Please note that any secondhand bikes must be purchased from an established supplier and cannot be purchased from individuals on platforms like Gumtree, Facebook, Amazon or eBay etc.
When you make your grant application, we can introduce you to bike shops or cycle suppliers who will be happy to help you through the selection and purchase process.
4. How much can be spent per bike?
We want to make sure that all bikes provided through the Cycle Access Fund are good quality bikes from reputable brands that will last and be suitable for everyday use.
We recommend that you research the market and avoid purchases based purely on low costs. The cheapest bikes rarely provide value for money and will likely not stand up to regular use.
We want each bike to be for long term use by the recipient. You should expect to spend between £400-£650 for a good quality standard adult bike and £200-£400 for children’s bikes.
5. Is there a maximum limit on the number of bikes that can be applied for?
Applications should be for between one and up to a maximum of 10 cycles.
6. Can I buy separate personal protective equipment?
The purchase of personal protective equipment (e.g. helmets, kneepads, gloves, reflective clothing) is revenue expenditure and CAF funding cannot be used for purchases of this type.
7. Can Cycle Access Fund offer support to help grant applicants buy the right bikes?
Yes. Every grant applicant will be offered support to help identify and choose a bike supplier. We can provide introductions to local bike retailers and manufacturers who will be happy to guide you through the purchasing options and help you to get the best bikes for your people.
We also have a Cycle Access Fund bike buying guide.
