A free summer cycling programme has launched in Liverpool city centre

HYPE Urban Bikes is leading a new initiative this summer to get people of all ages active and exploring Liverpool on two wheels, and it is completely free.

RiDE Liverpool launches every Saturday from 18 April, running through the summer holidays, giving riders of all abilities the chance to explore one of the UK’s most striking urban waterfronts by bike. The route takes in Princes Park, Sefton Park, Otterspool Promenade, and up to Hill Dickinson Stadium at the northern end of the waterfront, with participants encouraged to go as far as feels comfortable.

Free bike hire is available between 1pm and 4pm each Saturday, with options for adults and children alike, with a dedicated Cycle Circle at Brunswick Dock providing a safe, supported space for beginners and younger riders to build confidence, while qualified coaches are on hand to offer learn-to-ride support. 

Free Dr Bike safety checks are also available on the day, ensuring every rider can get on the road safely.

The programme is designed to be genuinely accessible. Whether someone is getting on a bike for the first time in years, introducing a child to cycling, or simply looking for a free and sociable way to spend a Saturday, RiDE Liverpool offers a welcoming entry point with no experience or equipment required.

Matt Houghton, Chief Executive of HYPE Merseyside, said:

“More and more, we’re seeing young people at home glued to their smartphones and tablets, when they could be experiencing the incredible beauty this city has to offer, while keeping fit and healthy at the same time. Getting young people on a bike, seeing the best of Liverpool, and building that habit early is exactly the kind of thing HYPE exists to do.”

Funded by Canal & River Trust and Sport England, and supported by Engage Liverpool, the initiative sits within HYPE Urban Bikes’ broader mission to build a cycling culture across the Liverpool City Region, particularly in communities where access to bikes, kit, and safe riding spaces can be a barrier.

As well as community programmes, HYPE Urban Bikes offers bike hire, sales of new and pre-loved bikes, servicing and repairs, and a Cycle to Work scheme for local employers and employees.

HYPE Merseyside, which stands for Helping Young People Everywhere, has been working across the region since 2007, supporting children and young people aged 7 to 24 in some of the area’s most deprived communities. With youth hubs across the Liverpool City Region and its Urban Bikes base on Sefton Street in Liverpool, the organisation delivers programmes spanning sport, outdoor activity, and community development, with a consistent focus on creating opportunities for young people who need them most.

With physical activity levels among children and young people a continuing concern nationally, RiDE Liverpool offers a practical, pressure-free way for families and individuals to build cycling into their lives, set against some of the city’s finest green spaces and waterfront scenery.

Free bike hire is available every Saturday throughout the summer between 1pm and 4pm, get more info here.

Liverpool City Region will host second stage of Tour De France, find out more here.

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