Riverside College Students get on their bikes

Engineering students from Riverside College have been offered a fantastic opportunity to work with the Kingsway Bike Project, an initiative set up to increase the number of bikes to local people and also help people to gain the skills to repair their own bikes.  This opportunity is part of number of joint projects between Riverside College and Halton Housing Trust.

This November, the Kingsway Bike Project has opened its doors to nine engineering students from Riverside College to help them with their course in servicing and assembling mechanical equipment.  The Kingsway Bike Project have donated ten bikes to the students to help them work towards their qualification  and the students have had the opportunity to design and manufacture bike stands in the workshop and are enjoying putting their new skills to good use.

The project itself was founded in 2007 by Carl and Jackie Peck and is a volunteer community group working together with local police and local people to repair and recycle old and damaged bikes, make cycling more readily available to everyone.  Bikes are donated to the project and after they have been repaired they are sold for no more than £20, meaning it is much more affordable for everyone.

Kevin Toole, Engineering tutor at Riverside College said, ‘The students are studying units which lend themselves to cycle maintenance, so this venture is great for them.  All of the students are working hard to revamp their bikes and are planning a charity bike ride along the whole length of the Leeds – Liverpool canal next April .’

Jackie Peck from theproject said, ‘I have been very impressed by the students, Carl and I have been to visit them at the College and were extremely impressed with the work shops and facilities the engineering students have access to , we really hope to continue this venture with Riverside college in the future.  Carl is also involved in the sponsor bike ride.’