September 18, 2014 11.26 am This story is over 114 months old

Young Lincoln homeless people gear up for charity bike ride

Cycling for homelessness: Young people affected by homelessness in Lincoln are taking part in a charity bike ride to raise funds for a bike recycling project.
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Young people affected by homelessness in Lincoln are taking part in a charity bike ride to raise funds for a bike recycling project.

As previously reported, young people have been taking part in a four-week bicycle scheme, initiated by homelessness charity Framework.

The participants have been working with Sustrans and the Access LN6 team at Lincolnshire County Council to restore and maintain a number of bicycles previously unsuitable for riding.

More than 50 bikes were donated to the bike recycling project following an appeal from Access LN6 in June.

On Saturday, September 27, young people who took part in the scheme will take part in a 32-mile charity bike ride using their restored bikes.

All funds raised will be used to establish other bike recycling projects across Lincolnshire.

Framework is encouraging other cyclists to take part in the ride and help raise funds towards their next bike recycling project.

To take part, people can download the registration form, or contact David Spivey on 07969 592 115 or [email protected].

The bike ride will leave Lincoln at 10.00am and travel along the Water Rail Way to Kirkstead Bridge and back.

The Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Brent Charlesworth, will officially start the bike ride at 10.00am outside the Lincs FM building on Waterside south.

Along the route, cyclists will be provided with tea, coffee, water and flapjack at Bardney, and a picnic lunch at Kirkstead Bridge – donated by Top Nosh.

The Access LN6 team at Lincolnshire County Council have supported the bike recycling scheme and charity bike ride with route planning advice, tips and advice, bike maintenance and more.

Members of the Access LN6 team will be leading the bike ride on Saturday.

David Spivey, Move-On and Sanctions Worker at Framework, said: “The response to the bike recycling scheme from our young people and the community has been phenomenal.

“The charity bike ride is the culmination of this part of the project and provides an opportunity for everyone to enjoy themselves following their hard work and commitment to the scheme.”

Councillor Richard Davies, Executive for Highways and Transportation at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “After working with Framework for the last few months and seeing young people getting involved with bike maintenance and restoring old bicycles, it’s great to celebrate their achievement with this charity bike ride.

“Raising funds to develop similar projects across the county and encouraging more people to get involved is an excellent idea; something we are very proud to support.”