Young people given bicycles to travel safely

By Alice Neil

A project is giving young people bikes to travel around safely.

Brixton-based community group upCycle is providing a safe form of transport for young people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds during the pandemic.

Philip Dobson was shocked to find out that people from some ethnic minorities were up to twice as likely to die after contracting Covid-19 – and upCycle’s goal is to provide young people with bikes, to reduce their need to use public transport.

The project relies on donations of second-hand bikes. These are refurbished and distributed to charities such as Voyage Youth, which specialises in working with young people from ethnically diverse communities.

upCycle also runs workshops where young people can help refurbish a bike and learn basic mechanical skills.

Afterwards they are able to cycle away with their own refurbished bikes.

The young riders also receive a helmet, lights, a lock and cycle safety training.

The project is reducing the need to use public transport, with its potential exposure to Covid-19.

It hopes to ignite young people’s passion for cycling and encourage more people to use bikes to get around the capital.

Pictured top: Philip Dobson of upCycle