How cycling support created lasting change for Hannah and her son

By Martin Hofschroer
Adult rides a yellow bike on a wet shared path beside a 40-mph road, with a child in a front seat wearing a yellow rainsuit and blue helmet; overcast sky and a car passing.
When travel costs rose and timetables stopped working for family life, teaching assistant Hannah Knowles looked for a simple, affordable way to do the nursery–work juggle

With support from Clackmannan Development Trust (CDT) through our Cycle Access Fund, Hannah borrowed a suitably set-up bike with a front child seat and a wide double kickstand, took a couple of confidence-building on-road sessions with a CDT tutor, and discovered a routine that works.

She now drops her son with the childminder and cycles on to school – saving more than £80 a month, being more active and planning to get her own bike through cycle to work.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed going back to cycling to work and really appreciate this opportunity to restart. I’ve gained confidence with my son in the front seat… My son loves the journeys – when he sees his helmet he goes ‘bike!’ and rings the bell as we go

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The challenge

Like many new parents, Hannah used to cycle but wasn’t sure how to carry a young child and everyday bags safely and easily.

It’s a common barrier: people often cite inconvenience and no way to carry shopping or luggage as reasons why they don’t cycle. Rising bus fares and inflexible timetables added pressure.

The support

CDT used Cycle Access Fund to build a practical, parent-first offer and then develop it year on year:

  • Shared-use fleet (year 1): six bikes (two adult, four children’s) available to loan so residents can try everyday cycling without upfront cost. For Hannah, CDT worked through a few seat options before finding the right front child seat, then added a sturdy double kickstand so the bike stayed upright while she strapped in her son, plus panniers for bags.
     
  • Skills and route confidence: short, targeted on-road sessions with a CDT cycle tutor focused on handling a bike with a child on board and sussing out a real-world route that combined nursery and work. Together they rode and risk-assessed a 4.5km commute – around 75% on shared paths and the remainder on 20mph local roads – turning an impractical walk and costly bus trip into one calm, door-to-door ride.
     
  • Progression to ownership (year 2): when demand grew, CDT used Cycle Access Fund’s Recycled strand to move riders from loan to refurbished ownership. Hannah returned the loan and received a bright yellow recycled bike set up with the same family-friendly tweaks – so the new habit stuck as life changed.

We selected the right seat after a few false starts, fitted a wide double kickstand and panniers, and rode the route together until it felt easy. Now it’s simply how Hannah and her son get to their day

Scott Bamford, Active Travel Co-ordinator at CDT

The impact

  • Money saved: £80+ per month compared with previous travel.
  • Active travel that fits family life: nursery and work stitched into one journey.
  • Confidence and comfort: correct equipment and brief skills support made carrying a child feel safe and manageable.
  • A habit that lasts: loan → learning → recycled ownership created a clear, affordable pathway to keep riding.

Scott helped on my first run to school, showing the best route, and my first ride with the seat. I’m now really confident cycling with the front seat

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Rear view of a cyclist in hi-vis with a backpack and red panniers riding along a wet shared path beside a road; a “Welcome to Clackmannan” sign and houses ahead under a grey sky
A calm morning commute for mum and son in Clackmannan

Partner spotlight: Clackmannan Development Trust

CDT’s experience shows how a layered local offer turns interest into everyday journeys:

  • 2024-25 (Shared-use): Cycle Access Fund funding enabled a mixed adult/children’s fleet to meet demand. Hannah accessed an adult bike with child seat and stabilising kickstand, plus short on-road support to get started.
  • 2025-26 (Recycled): with Cycle Access Fund’s recycled-bike support, CDT could transition keen participants from loan to ownership, keeping momentum high and costs low for families.

This continuity – try it, learn it, own it – keeps people riding and helps community organisations grow what works.

Why it matters

For parents, the difference between cycling and not cycling is often practical, not ideological: Can I carry my child? Will the bike stay upright while I strap them in? Is there a simple route that avoids busy roads? 

By combining the right equipment, a short burst of skills support and access to a bike without the upfront cost, Hannah was able to replace a stressful, expensive commute with a reliable, low-cost routine she enjoys, together with her son. The side effects? Lower costs, calmer mornings and a child who loves the ride in all weathers.

If you’re a community partner interested in running shared-use and recycled-bike support locally, our Cycle Access Fund team can help you shape a similar pathway.

A big thanks to SEStran, whose support for Cycle Access Fund made this work possible.

Scotland Cycle Access Fund Family cycling Cycling UK in Scotland

About Cycle Access Fund

Cycling UK’s Cycle Access Fund helps support those people who are least likely to have access to cycles. It provides funding for organisations in Scotland to buy cycles and equipment, for repairs and recycling or for parking and storage.

Find out more

Further reading