Boost for Kettering active travel as Stride & Ride CIC created to champion walking, cycling and wheeling

As a social enterprise the CIC (community interest company) Stride & Ride has launched to help make journeys easier and safer, uniting local advocates for ‘active travel’ - walking, cycling, scooting or wheeling (such as using a power chair or mobility scooter) - in the Kettering area.

The idea evolved from the activities that Brightwayz, another local social enterprise, has been doing over the past 21 years to promote safe, active, sustainable everyday travel for all.

Brightwayz founder Alison Holland has supported the set up of Stride & Ride CIC.

She said: “The hub is about so much more than fixing bikes, it’s about being a friendly face for passers-by to stop and talk about how they’d like to see the town in terms of safer routes, crossings and more - not just for when people want to cycle but for when they want to walk or use a mobility scooter.”

For the past three years, on the last Saturday of every month, Brightwayz have set up a blue gazebo and collection of bikes near Market Place, Kettering.

The monthly ‘active travel hub’ provides free cycle safety checks, maps, basic servicing and security marking. Since last summer Stride and Ride CIC have taken over running these events with support from Brightwayz.

With the huge growth in demand for active travel initiatives in Kettering, the team at Brightwayz wanted to hand some of the local activities over to a new group.

As well as running the monthly hubs, Stride & Ride CIC is involved in advocating for safe travel routes, by promoting local opportunities for people to have their say. This includes the current Kettering Town Centre Neighbourhood Plan which includes safe, active travel or ‘Movement and Connectivity’ as one of its key themes.

The active travel hubs are planned to continue - on the Market Place outside the Royal Hotel on the last Saturday of every month. Long term, the group hopes to establish a permanent active travel hub in the town centre.

Stride & Ride CIC were successful in their application for a community grant from Kettering Town Council. This has funded four of the monthly hub events to help cover costs, although most of the team are volunteers.

Alison added: “We are very grateful to Kettering Town Council for supporting Stride & Ride in this way as it means we can have a qualified cycle mechanic and cover other costs.”

The ambition for Stride & Ride CIC is to see the town and wider area - which includes nearby villages and Burton Latimer - connected with safer routes for all.

With a motto of ‘Kettering voices for safer travel choices’ they are providing a way for local people to get involved and help achieve this.

The next Stride & Ride Active Travel Hub event with free cycle safety checks, service and security marking is on Saturday, February 28 from 11am to 3pm on the corner of Market Street and Market Place, Kettering.

For more information go to www.strideandride.org.uk.