The stats for 2023 are impressive.
Environmental and health benefits of cycling
Getting more people on bikes
Turning to WATBike, its core charitable purpose is to get more people on bikes, whether by organising free rides or providing free bikes to those in need (e.g. Ukrainians, Restart job programme) and protecting the environment by keeping bikes out of landfill, recycling inner tubes and donating old frames to local metal workers and inner tubes to upcycles.
2023 in numbers
Over 500 donated bikes received
245 sold to fund our work
20% given away
800+ bikes serviced
160 bikes checked for free at Dr Bike sessions
We are also contributing to reduce landfill, stripping 155 second-hand bikes for parts and/or for local metal workers to reuse. We also recycled over 1,000 kg of used tyres through the Velorim scheme.
We also improve the well-being of local people by running free weekly guided rides from our Kirkley workshop with volunteer guides who take cyclists on various routes promoting the local area. In 2023, we cycled more than seven thousand miles.
“I've seen how participants gain a sense of confidence, establish friendships, improve their skills and abilities, improve their knowledge of the local area and they tell me there are health benefits (both physical and mental).”
Volunteer ride leader