“Cycling with Anne” offer to boost confidence on Orkney's roads

Do you want to continue cycling over the winter but need a bit of support?  

HiTrans Active Travel Behaviour Change Officer, Murray Stewart, who is based at the Council, has teamed up with Anne Sayer “Cycling with Anne” to offer folk the chance to join two free cycling at night courses. 

The taster sessions for up to six people are on Tuesday 4 February (from Stromness Academy) from 7pm-9pm and Tuesday 11 February (at Kirkwall Grammar School) from 7pm-9pm. 

The course, which will start off-road before undertaking a short cycle ride in each of the towns, is designed to give riders the confidence to cycle all year round and the organisers are keen to hear your feedback from the initial sessions. 

The safety of participants is paramount and all necessary precautions to ensure the cyclists are visible and ride according to the Highway Code will be taken. Bikes should also be road worthy. Some freebies to support winter cycling will also be available. 

Anne said: “If you are keen to keep cycling all year round but need a few tips and a bit of moral support, these sessions are ideal. Cycling is a great activity – it gets you from A to B at minimal cost and helps you to stay fit and healthy. Cycling is freedom! 

“I have been cycling on and off since I was a child, but I have not always found it easy! Now cycling is my main way of getting around for shorter journeys. I love the freedom of travelling this way and want to share this with others – and help folk feel confident cycling on the road. My goal as a cycling instructor is for cycling to be something everyone will want to do again and again – the aim of every session I run is that people will want to get back on their bike and soon! 

“My teaching style is supportive and empowering and builds on years of personal cycling as well as experience gained in other sectors and my cycle instructor training. With the right opportunity and the right bike, I believe that anyone can cycle.” 

Murray said: “We are encouraging folk to get active whenever that is possible – it's good for physical and mental health but also the environment. We don’t need to use cars for every journey, especially the short ones – and there’s always good weather days throughout the winter months, even in Orkney! 

“It’s great we have someone with Anne’s cycling knowledge and expertise who we can utilise on our doorstep. We welcome anyone along to the sessions – whether you have very little experience to others who are more regular daytime cyclists who would like to brush up on tips for safe cycling at night. 

“As is the case at any time on our roads, we ask that both drivers and other road users, such as cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders are courteous to one another. More information around this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203#rule162.” 

Anne has a page here with information and a link to a sign-up form: https://cyclingwithanne.co.uk/winter-cycling-sessions/