Yorkshire Bank Supports Cycle Yorkshire Legacy Project

This week marked the launch of the country’s first ever network of bike libraries thanks to a new partnership between Yorkshire Bank and Welcome to Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries initiative aims to improve access to cycling in Yorkshire and create a legacy following the county’s successful hosting of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014 in July.

Yorkshire Bank has teamed up with Welcome to Yorkshire’s cycling enterprise, Cycle Yorkshire, to turn the scheme into reality. As title partner, the three-year deal will see Yorkshire Bank provide funding to ensure the success of the project and reinforces the bank’s ‘We care about here’ ethos.

Helen Page, Yorkshire Bank Customer Experience & Marketing Director, said: “At Yorkshire Bank we’re committed to supporting the local community and we hope, through this wonderful scheme, more people will be able to enjoy the benefits of cycling.”

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, who came up with the idea said: “I’m delighted that Yorkshire Bank shares our passion for helping everyone in Yorkshire to have access to a bike. They’re turning this dream into a reality and we need the public to help us do the same by donating bikes that perhaps have been sat in a garage gathering dust.”People across Yorkshire are being asked to donate their old or unwanted bikes at one of many donation stations across the county. The New Year will see a second stage of the project get underway when community and not-for-profit groups will be able to bid for funding to run bike libraries, which will see donated bikes fixed and ready for people to borrow.

The repaired and renovated bikes will be available for people of all ages to borrow free of charge and by next year there will be Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries across Yorkshire. The hope is that everyone, regardless of their circumstances will have access to a bike, particularly children.

brandrapport, Yorkshire Bank’s sponsorship agency, will support the partnership with Cycle Yorkshire.