West Wales Trails will host its first ever pop-up bike market at Penboyr School, Drefach Felindre this week. The pop-up bike market is believed to be the first of its kind in the area and has been inspired by the success of similar schemes in London.
On Wednesday, 25 October, starting at 8am and finishing at 4.45pm the pop-up bike market – a fundraising and cycle awareness event, will try and get more children
and adults cycling on the bike that’s right for them.
“If you’ve an unwanted bike you can bring it into the school first thing in the morning. The bikes are checked over and serviced during the day by our mechanic and they go on sale just before the school finishes. The seller gets all the money from the sale (which is agreed beforehand) except for a £2 donation which goes to the school sports council,” said Lottie Broome from West Wales Trails, a small business also in Felindre, with an on-site bike park and bike club offering skills coaching.
The idea of the pop-up market came to fruition when West Wales Trails undertook a feasibility study for a client in London. They noticed that the pop-up markets there were very successful and that they could also be popular here.
“We’re hoping for a good range of bikes, from kids balance bikes through to adult road bikes. It means that people will be able to try the bikes for size on the day and go home happy with their purchase. Many people struggle to afford an older child or adult bike and there aren’t so many of these affordable, second hand bikes around compared to toddler bikes, of which there are plenty. We’re asking people to dust off and bring in their outgrown or forgotten bikes lurking in the back of their shed.” said Lottie, whose husband looks after the trail design, build and consultancy side of West Wales Trails.
Lottie added: “As well as helping to meet some of Carmarthenshire County Council’s well-being objectives, this is an unusual type of community event in reaching out
to those families who cannot afford a bike or don’t know what sort of
bike to get, with the goal of making cycling a regular form of transport for people.”
According to Cycling UK, nearly 70% of the population never cycle, despite 42% of those aged over five owning a bike and only 2% of journeys made to primary schools, are by bike.
If the pop-up bike market is a success, Lottie hopes that the company will be able to secure funding and they’ll be looking at hosting many more pop-ups in the area to get people on their bikes.
By Anwen Francis.
