GOING DUTCH IN YORKSHIRE

A Yorkshire mum on the joy - and health benefits - of getting out and about on two wheels

By ALICE BAMFORD

Cycling with my family brings me so much joy and I’d love for more families to benefit from the thrill of being out on their bikes together. Apart from the obvious health benefits of getting out in the fresh air and being physically active, cycling is a great way to build resilience and promote independence in children.

In fact, the physical and mental health benefits of cycling as a family with your children are numerous. It’s a fun form of exercise that improves balance and coordination in toddlers and young children. For the slightly older ones, cycling is a great way to shake o the stress of school, especially during exam time. It’s the perfect opportunity to bond as a family.

As a mum of a two-year-old living in Yorkshire, I know first hand the amazing cycle routes and paths this beautiful county has to o er. And cycling through Yorkshire is something everyone needs to do!

For nature lovers, the six-mile route from Barnsley to the Old Moor RSPB Reserve in the heart of Yorkshire’s Dearne Valley is a wonderful family-friendly ride. At the end of the route, the whole tribe can recharge at the beautiful Reserve, see how many species of birds you can spot and refuel at the café or picnic area. We absolutely love this route in the spring when everything is bursting with new life. Everyone loves heading to the coast in summer and the Scarborough to Whitby Railpath is perfect for family cycling. It is a little hilly in parts, but I’d definitely recommend the slightly easier and shorter route from Scarborough to Robin Hood’s Bay to take in the stunning Yorkshire coastline.

If you’re looking for a route for novice cyclists and families, you can’t go wrong with the York to Selby path. York has something of a reputation for being a “cyclist’s city” and there’s certainly been much e ort put into cycling infrastructure in and around the city over recent years.

The pandemic certainly set the wheels in motion by reigniting the country’s love of getting outside on a bike and the popularity of cycling is still growing every day. However, while many of us are embracing getting around on two wheels, when it comes to families cycling more together or children cycling to school, we’re miles behind our Dutch counterparts.

A recent survey showed that in the UK, less than four in ten parents feel comfortable allowing their children to cycle to school, compared with the Netherlands where half of primary school children and 75% of secondary school students cycle to school. Many parents believe their children would benefit from cycling lessons in school like the Dutch, where primary school children often take a cycle exam just before heading to secondary school, to prepare them for travelling further distances independently.

I believe positive role models could also make an encouraging impact on families if they were able to see other families, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, out and about as a cycling family.

I work for Sudocrem, the multi-tasking skincare cream with an o ce in Castleford, and in 2021 we launched the Sudocrem Cycle More campaign with Paralympian cyclist and mother of two, Dame Sarah Storey. It’s been a highlight of my career so far and something I am incredibly proud of. As a brand, we have always championed healthy lifestyles and encouraging families to cycle more seemed like a good way to build on Play More, our campaign to promote outdoor play with Chris Packham.

We also know that My Little Sudocrem has become very popular amongst cyclists, especially to soothe ‘cyclist’s bum’. It’s perfect for relieving chafing and patches of dry skin, so make sure you pop a pot in your rucksack along with the all-important snacks and bottles of water (lots of water!).

The majority of British families cite a lack of knowledge of cycle routes as the main reason for not choosing to cycle as a family, along with a lack of infrastructure such as cycle lanes and fear of other road users. However, despite their concerns, many want to cycle more as a family and are simply waiting for the weather to get better. So, get your tribe together and let’s go Dutch this summer – by getting on yer bike!