Photos capture surge in cycling during lockdown
CYCLINGUK has been touring the UK documenting the nation’s new love of cycling since lockdown and has captured how Cardiffians are embracing the sport.
The collection of images and stories is the first of its kind and offers a unique snapshot of Britain’s cycling history.
As of Monday, July 20, the most recent weekday for which data is available, cycling levels were up 124% compared with pre-lockdown.
More than 50 cyclists participated in the project from cities across the UK, including 11 people from Cardiff – including Vera Ngosi, who became such a fan of cycling during lockdown she started her own cycling Instagram channel.
Vera said: “Cycling is therapeutic. You can go anywhere, tackle anything. Feel liberated.
“It’s why I started my cycling Instagram page during lockdown. I had more time to cycle, and I realised I don’t see many black people on bikes, particularly black women.
“So I wanted to create this image and put it out there, so that people could see themselves cycling.”
Chris Weaver, cabinet member for finance, modernisation and performance at Cardiff Council, is also featured in the collection.
He said: “I used to ride in London and Cardiff is a welcome change. Cardiff infrastructure is getting better and there’s more opportunities to cycle.
“If I were to try and convince a newbie to take up cycling I’d say it’s easier than you think. Pick a destination and go for it. I use my bike to get to work and the shops mainly. It’s fun. Feels free. It’s liberating.”
A dedicated charity worker, Sybil Williams MBE, told how she started cycling after encouraging people with disabilities to try it.
“Obviously like everyone I cycled when I was a kid, but then I didn’t ride a bike for a long long time,” she said. “Eventually I worked in a hospital with people who had disabilities. We wanted to get them cycling, which got me cycling.
“We set up a charity to give people with learning difficulties the possibility to cycle. It’s still going today, it’s called Pedal Power. It’s great to see 100s of people going out to cycle that normally wouldn’t. One guy comes from Hereford, who had a head injury, just to use our bikes.
“It’s good for people to achieve on a bike when they’re struggling to achieve elsewhere.”
Meanwhile, Mateusz Jantuna and his three children find cycling fun.
Mateusz said: “This is us, me and my kids on a bike ride.
“I like cycling when the weather is nice, but it’s also fun for the family.
“My kids are three, nine and 11. I taught them all to ride with help for their grandpa.”
CyclingUK is the national cycling charity, aiming to inspire and help people to start cycling and keep cycling,
The charity will be displaying these new stories as part of its Pumped Up campaign which aims to celebrate and support new and returning cyclists.
James Scott, director of CyclingUK, said: “These are the faces behind the percentages governments in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are recording.
“Through this project we have captured the moment when people from all walks of life started cycling.
“We know that if people see people ‘like them’ out on the roads it gives them the confidence to give a bike a try. So we wanted to show the huge diversity of people who love cycling across the UK.
“Cycling is not only great for your health but obviously the environment, your wallet and above all great fun. We’re pumped up to help even more people reap the benefits of travelling on two wheels.”