Charedi pedal power
HUNDREDS OF strictly Orthodox Jews have taken up cycling at a track in Manchester, leaving the club overwhelmed and worried for rider safety.
There were queues, a shortage of bikes and toddlers running amok at Boggart Hole Clough club after more than 400 Charedim joined a special cycling session on Wednesday.
Volunteer Sue Blaylock, who runs the Simple Cycling charity, said the influx had been “overwhelming”. Usually 60 people attend the event.
She said: “I’ve got to think of the health and safety of everyone. I don’t want it to lead to issues like people becoming racist or nasty to each other.”
Simple Cycling provides more than 180 bicycles, tricycles and hand-operated cycles adapted from reclaimed equipment such as wheelchairs and wheelbarrows to users of all abilities for £2 each.
Michael Balshine, Whitefield Hebrew Congregation youth director, said two school trips during the summer sparked the interest.
“Suddenly there was this influx of Jewish kids going who came back and said they had a great time, so then out of nowhere, just through word of mouth, you had hundreds of Jewish families attending this cycling place,” he said.
Ms Blaylock approached Jonny Wineberg, Manchester Jewish Representative Council chair, for help, but said she was not clear on how to resolve the issue.
“We just need to look at all the options to keep it lovely, rather than a bit of a battle.”