Community cycling projects in London invited to apply for share of £250,000

Community-based cycling initiatives in London are being invited to apply for funding from Transport for London (TfL) to help achieve their goals, and in addition to amounts of up to £5,000 as awarded in previous years, particularly outstanding projects could benefit from a cash boost of up to £10,000 this time around.

The Community Cycling Fund for London, which is administered by London Cycling Campaign (LCC) on behalf of TfL, with match funding provided by the Big Lottery’s Active Travel Consortium, provides a total of £250,000 annually helpings out initiatives aimed at making cycling an everyday activity accessible to all Londoners.

It has a particular emphasis on projects that seek to grow the confidence of new or occasional cyclists, whatever their background, and in particular marginalized groups including disabled people, members of ethnic minorities, women, children and other youngsters.

The first wave of funding applications runs from 18 January – that’s next Monday – to 5 February, and for those who miss that deadline, another window for applications is open from 8 March until 26 March. Full details of the application process as well as forms to download can be found on the LCC website.

Ben Plowden, TfL’s Director of Integrated Programme Delivery, quoted on the BikeForAll.net website, said: "We are encouraging new recruits to the Mayor's Cycle Revolution and we are here to help local communities turn their ideas into actions to promote pedal power. This year, we're offering increased grants to give local cycling champions the opportunity to think bigger and offer better opportunities to get more people cycling and people cycling more often."

Past recipients of awards include the STA Bikes and Wilton Estate project in Hackney, which offers cycle training to children and adults alike and also runs bike maintenance workshops for local youths, which benefited to the tune of £4,824, and Barnet Norwood Centre and Barnet Mencap’s project project 'Get on Your Bike,' which aims to encourage adults with learning disabilities to get cycling,

Rosie Tharp, Community Cycling Officer at LCC, commented: "Through the grants awarded in 2009, over 3,000 people have benefited, with many building their cycling confidence while others gained cycle maintenance skills. A total of 191 abandoned bikes were put back into action and 55 cycle-rides were organised, all thanks to funding from TfL.”

She added: "We look forward to receiving many applications again this year and urge all community groups in outer London boroughs that are currently underrepresented, to take this opportunity to get cycling."