In September 2025, North Yorkshire Council partnered with Everybody’s Cycling to deliver a five-day cycle try-out roadshow across five primary schools in the region.
Designed to promote physical activity, active travel (walking/wheeling, cycling, scooting), and environmental awareness, the initiative gave pupils access to inclusive cycling experiences, many for the first time. The selected schools had demonstrated exceptional commitment to active travel through their Modeshift STARS accreditation, as a tool to celebrate their success and showcase the power of inclusive cycling.
A standout feature of the roadshow was the variety of unique and inclusive cycles – from handcycles and side-by-side bikes, to the quirky penny farthing and squirrel bike. These eye-catching designs sparked immediate curiosity and encouraged enthusiastic participation. Children embraced the hands-on sessions with excitement, while teachers joined in, rediscovering their own love ‘[and] childhood joy’ of cycling and helping foster a shared sense of joy and community across the playground.
The sessions helped many pupils achieve their recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. As Jessica, General Manager at Everybody’s Cycling, noted:
‘One-third of children don’t get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day, but these cycling sessions contributed to many children achieving this. We even helped some children learn to ride a bike for the first time!’
For those pupils, it was a milestone moment – gaining confidence, independence, and for some, a new skill. The inclusive setup ensured children of all abilities could participate, creating an atmosphere of excitement, empowerment, and celebration.
Over five days, the roadshow engaged more than 1,100 pupils, boosting physical activity and raising awareness of active travel. Its success has inspired the Council to explore how the Roadshow could be repeated for other schools in the future. Alongside the impressive numbers were unforgettable moments: a young girl with cerebral palsy riding a handcycle for the first time, a pupil conquering the penny farthing with growing confidence, and a boy with autism dancing in bubbles as staff pedalled the music bike and bubble frog to name a few.
Could you bring a similar event to your region, school, or community?
The event received widespread praise for its inclusivity and positive impact from school staff, council colleagues, and Everybody’s Cycling event staff. One staff member shared, ‘A student wasn’t sure she could ride, but she did and loved it. Being part of that moment was incredibly rewarding.’ The roadshow demonstrated the power of embedding inclusive active travel into the school calendar – boosting confidence and inspiring a lifelong love of cycling among pupils, staff, and families. With over 1,100 pupils involved in its inaugural Roadshow, and the resounding feedback from pupils being ‘I loved it!’ And ‘Please come back!’ and it’s no surprise that the Council would like to repeat in future, its success speaks for itself!
