RIDE ON – CYCLING FOR ALL

Registered Charity Number: 1174055

RIDE ON – CYCLING FOR ALL is a UK-based nonprofit organisation and social enterprise dedicated to promoting cycling accessibility and sustainability by refurbishing and redistributing bicycles to local communities. Established in response to the need for affordable and reliable bicycles, it aims to enable more people—particularly children and adults who face financial, health, or confidence barriers—to engage in cycling as a means of transport, exercise, and recreation.

History and Mission

RIDE ON emerged to address the challenge that many individuals, including over half of the primary school children attending cycling courses, could not participate fully due to a lack of access to bicycles. Since its founding in 2011, the organisation has collected unwanted bicycles through public donations, which volunteers refurbish and then either sell to raise funds or donate to those in need. Over its operational years, RIDE ON has successfully put more than 5,200 bicycles back into use, including 830 in 2021 alone.

The charity's vision centers on fostering a clean, healthy, and active community in Exeter and the wider Devon area by making cycling accessible to all. This is pursued through a broad mission of encouraging people to ride more often with safe, reliable, and affordable bikes.

Activities and Services

RIDE ON offers various programmes and services designed to support and empower cyclists of all ages and abilities:

• Bike Refurbishment and Sale: The organisation refurbishes donated bikes and offers them for sale at affordable prices, ensuring access to quality bicycles.

• Bike Surgery Sessions: These workshops provide an opportunity for individuals to learn basic bike maintenance and repair skills in a supportive setting, including women-only workshops that focus on building confidence and mechanical knowledge.

• Cycling Training and Education: RIDE ON provides cycle training and road safety education for children and adults, helping build riding skills and confidence on the roads.

• Community Engagement: The organisation operates a community workshop space where local people can gather to discuss cycling, plan routes, and participate in activities such as using a smoothie bike—a bicycle-powered blender.

• Health and Confidence Building: Collaborating with the NHS, RIDE ON delivers initiatives to help individuals build confidence and improve health through bike mechanics and cycling.

• Rickshaw Project: This initiative offers rides to people who cannot cycle themselves due to age or disability, enhancing their access to cycling experiences.

Impact and Volunteer Involvement

Volunteers play a vital role at RIDE ON, contributing through various roles including bike repair, fundraising, workshop maintenance, and administrative support. The charity emphasises inclusivity, demonstrated by its outreach to women through dedicated mechanical workshops and sessions.

RIDE ON’s work has resulted in thousands of people, ranging from toddlers to elderly individuals, being supported to cycle safely and sustainably, fostering healthier lifestyles and reducing barriers to affordable personal transportation.

Summary

RIDE ON – CYCLING FOR ALL is a community-focused UK charity committed to recycling and redistributing bicycles to improve access to cycling. Its comprehensive approach combines refurbishing bikes, educational programmes, community workshops, and partnerships aimed at creating an inclusive cycling culture in Exeter and Devon. Through the efforts of volunteers and donations, it has successfully promoted cycling as a healthy, sustainable, and accessible activity for all ages and abilities since 2011.[1][2][3]

[1] https://landaid.org/support-our-mission/join-our-pro-bono-programme/volunteer-for-pro-bono-projects/23-289-ride-on-cycling-for-all/ [2] https://rideoncycling.org [3] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5097000 [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1149065 [5] https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=117557