The Big Bike Revival secures three more years of funding

The new funding will help more adults across England build confidence, develop skills and make cycling part of everyday life. It forms part of a wider government-backed investment in cycle training, walk-to-school programmes and other initiatives designed to remove barriers to active travel for people of all ages and backgrounds.

For more than 10 years, The Big Bike Revival has supported people who do not cycle regularly to get back to cycling through free repairs, skills sessions and led rides.

The programme is focused on making cycling feel more accessible, practical and welcoming for people who may face barriers to taking part.

Over the past decade, The Big Bike Revival has supported more than 800,000 people, helped replace almost 10 million car trips, cut more than 9,000 tonnes of CO2 and generated more than £56 million in wider economic and social benefits.

The new three-year settlement gives Cycling UK and its local delivery partners greater certainty to plan ahead, retain skilled staff and continue reaching communities across England with free, friendly and community-based support.

A significant moment for the programme

As The Big Bike Revival enters its 11th year, this is an especially significant moment for the programme. Not only is it continuing into a new chapter, but for the first time Cycling UK has secured three years of funding for delivery.

This longer funding period gives Cycling UK and delivery partners greater certainty to plan, test and develop new ideas, offer longer-term support and measure impact over a longer period.

Reaching the people who need it most

The Big Bike Revival works because it focuses on people who are often underserved by traditional cycling offers. Through trusted grassroots organisations, the programme helps people overcome practical and personal barriers, whether that means getting an old cycle repaired, learning basic maintenance, building confidence or joining a welcoming local ride.

The programme has also shown particular success in engaging women and people from ethnic minority communities. Almost half of participants are women, while a quarter come from ethnic minority communities.

That impact can be seen in stories like Real Yellow Jersey winner Sumayra Ahmad, who first joined a women-only Big Bike Revival bike maintenance session and went on to become a qualified instructor and ride leader. Her sessions now help women from all backgrounds and abilities, particularly the South Asian community, explore cycling and overcome barriers to taking part.

Building on 10 years of success 

The funding will enable Cycling UK to continue delivering The Big Bike Revival through grassroots partners across England, with activity expected to include:

• Free bike repairs and fix sessions

• Cycle confidence and skills sessions

• Led rides in local communities

• Support aimed at helping more people choose cycling for short everyday journeys

This community-led approach has been central to the programme’s success over the past decade and will remain at the heart of delivery for the next three years.

Director of Behaviour Change at Cycling UK, James Scott, said:

This programme works because it reaches people who don’t usually cycle. Despite the gender divide in cycling, nearly half of our participants are women, with a quarter coming from ethnic minority communities. With continued funding and support, we intend to deliver more skills and confidence sessions, free repairs and rides that make cycling feel like a real option for everyday travel. Not just for the committed few, but for everyone. Regular walking and cycling have been shown to cut sick days, reduce pressure on the NHS, lower carbon emissions and save people money on travel costs

Applications now open

Applications for delivery partners are now open, with events starting from 3 April.