Sheffield schools will receive new bike pumps in bid to inflate numbers of new cyclists

“When we did some Dr Bike maintenance sessions this year, every bike that came in had flat or very deflated tyres,” said Craig Malkin from the Links School Sports Partnership.

“The kids all said they didn’t have a pump at home, but their dad sometimes took their bike down to the garage to pump it up, which is not ideal,” Craig added. “We don’t want their tyres exploding.”

This Christmas and New Year, 40 Sheffield schools will receive the present of a new school bike pump to help inflate the number of young city cyclists. The robust floor pumps, provided by Russell’s Bicycle Shed thanks to a £1,000 grant from Sheffield City Trust, will be looked after by a school staff member for pupils and staff to use when needed to keep their bikes running smoothly.

Russell Cutts (of Russell’s Bicycle Shed) helped Craig Malkin fix over 100 bikes in 2021 at maintenance sessions at six primary and secondary schools around the Outdoor City. The overwhelming flat tyre problem seemed like an easy fix, he concluded.

“The trouble with flat tyres is that if you don’t have a pump, your bike will just sit in the garden and rot,” said Russell. “Having a pump somewhere they can access means that kids can actually ride their bikes, and once word spreads about the school bike pump, more kids will bring their bikes in and start riding too.”

Craig Malkin has been helping children ride bikes in some of the city’s most disadvantaged communities for the last 15 years, and says there’s been a significant increase in children and teenagers cycling, including girls of all ages.

“It’s not just sporty boys now, everyone wants to ride,” said Craig. “It’s about having fun with friends, but it’s also about getting to school or round to your mates quicker, and when I’ve talked to kids recently, it’s clear it’s also been about reducing pressure and tension over this really difficult time.”

Rob Womack from Sheffield City Trust said children understand that having a working bike is essentially about freedom, just as it was when he was a boy. “We know that kids nowadays want to ride their bikes, they often want to ride them to school, and this will make it easier for them.”

Flat tyres are no problem for parents with bike knowledge, and money for maintenance equipment, but many parents aren’t confident about how to keep a bike running, said Russell Cutts. “It’s not just about flat tyres, if a tyre is at the right pressure, it’ll be easier and safer to ride too.”

The scheme has started with school pumps in the city’s less wealthy areas, but Rob Womack said he’d like to provide a bike pump for all LEA schools in Sheffield. “Keeping your kid cycling is about affordability, sometimes it’s about knowledge and sometimes convenience,” he said. “We’d like to see a city where cycling by Sheffield children is normalised.”

Russell Cutts is, of course, delivering the pumps by bike, and children at Arbourthorne and Manor Lodge schools were delighted to see him arrive (in appropriate Father Christmas hat and beard) on his vast cargo bike to make his first deliveries. “I’m hoping kids seeing us deliver their pumps on an e-cargo bike will help show them that riding a bike is very much part of their future,” he said.

Kate Clark, from the Move More scheme, said kids cycling helps encourage adults too. “Move More want to create a healthier happier Sheffield, so we’re keen to support anything we can to get people moving.”

Craig Malkin added that better walking and cycling routes to school are also needed, along with fewer cars dropping off kids at the school gates.

Russell agrees, but added: “It’s no good having a safe traffic free route to cycle on if your bike has flat tyres.”