Ealing Council is making cycling accessible to Southall residents to promote an active and healthy lifestyle, while also contributing to the improvement of air quality in the area.

The Council is delivering this community cycling project using £1.2 million funding from Sport England.

Through meaningful engagement and listening to the concerns of Southall residents, the council has identified many obstacles that hinder cycling participation in the community. These obstacles include the lack of reliable and high-quality bicycles, a lack of confidence to cycle on the roads, and even the absence of companionship for cycling.

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On the 5th May 2023, Villiers High School tweeted "Thank you to Let’s Ride Southall for their successful bike giveaway to promote healthy and sustainable travel. Ten pupils received their new bikes as well as locks, helmets and lights."

During the school's active travel week on May 11th, Councillor Peter Mason, the leader of Ealing Council, and Councillor Jasbir Anand, the cabinet member for thriving communities, paid a visit to Villiers High School in Southall. Their purpose was to give away 10 brand new bicycles to children and talk to them about the benefits of active travel.

Was that another 10 free bikes or the same bikes?

Councillor Peter Mason said: "Let’s Ride Southall is a unique programme which gives people the confidence to cycle regularly. In fact, it’s the first of its kind in London. Ealing is leading the way in active travel."

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Councillor Jasbir Anand added: "It was great to see the smiles on children’s faces when they received their new bikes. Working with our schools and young people to encourage them to get active and improve their health and wellbeing is so important to us."

The council has already provided 281 free bicycles to children and adults in Southall, with plans to distribute an additional 700 bikes in the near future. This amounts to a total of 1,000 free bicycles within the year. Residents also benefit from training, daily cycling excursions suitable for individuals of all ages and skill levels, and a supportive community of fellow cyclists.

Let’s Ride Southall is part of Lets Go Southall, which is supposedly totally independent of Ealing Council. It is supposed to be a community led organisation. Who is providing the free bikes and training? Ealing Council or Lets Go Southall?

According to Ealing Council Let’s Ride Southall giving out a thousand free bikes due to an initiative launched by Ealing Council and Sport England. Lets Ride Southall is “just one part of the wider Let’s Go Southall programme” (run by Ealing Council, which no one wants to admit).

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Reducing the number of cars on the roads in favour of bikes can help in reducing harmful emissions that worsen the climate crisis and air pollution. Cycling not only fights the climate emergency but also enhances the air quality we all breathe.

Ealing Council offers free monthly bike repair sessions where mechanics carry out minor repairs on the spot and give advice on how to look after your bike. While most Dr Bike sessions are drop-in, without the need for booking, reserved slots are available for Southall Manor House and Southall Square sessions upon request.

The Sport England-funded project entails distributing up to 2,500 bicycles to residents. This allocation consists of 1,400 brand new bikes, 35 adapted trikes, and 1,065 predominantly recycled and refurbished bikes sourced from West London Waste.