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As we near the end of the year, there is still plenty to look forward to!
 A girl learning to ride a bike
Think that the end of summer means the end of cycling? Think again! There are still four more indoor cycling sessions for children before the end of the year. Just turn up on one of the following dates at Xcel Leisure Centre CV4 8DY:
- Tuesday 11 November
- Tuesday 18 November
- Tuesday 2 December
- Tuesday 16 December
Sessions for beginners are 4-5pm, and the 5-6pm slot is for advanced learners. All sessions are open to children aged 5-13 inclusive. The cost is £1 per child, with no booking required. But you can contact the centre on 024 7685 6956 if you want to book a place.
Xcel Leisure Centre
Mitchell Avenue
Canley CV4 8DY
 A couple riding a side-by-side trike
Thanks to funding from Sport England, Midland Mencap are hosting four more Parkride sessions in November. These all take place between 11am and 3pm.
- Wednesday 12 November, Longford Park CV6 7BB
- Wednesday 19 November, Longford Park CV6 7BB
- Wednesday 26 November, Longford Park CV6 7BB
- Saturday 29 November, Coundon Hall Park CV6 2EH
Parkride is an accessible and inclusive cycling event, offering people the chance to enjoy the benefits of cycling if a two-wheeled cycle is not the best fit for them. Instructors will help you learn how to cycle if this is your first time, or just practice and get better if that's what you need!
A range of adapted and specialist cycles will be available to try in a park setting. The target audience is people with physical or mental impairments, however the events are open to everyone, as we all have different needs. The programme is intended to challenge perceptions about who cycling is for, and open the joy of cycling to everyone in the community.
Sessions are FREE but booking is required:
By phone: 0121 442 2944
By email: parkride@midlandmencap.org.uk
Coventry residents have told us that anti-social behaviour in Coventry is their biggest concern, and it matters to us too. We want everyone who works, lives and spends time in our city to feel safe.
A growing concern is illegal and unsafe e-bikes, which breaches our Public Spaces Protection Order to help protect the public and maintain safe spaces.
Recently, we teamed up with West Midlands Police and the Coventry Business Improvement District (BID) for a joint day of action, focused on tackling retail crime and illegal e-bikes. During the operation, key areas of the city centre saw a strong presence of uniformed Police, Council and BID officers.
Our Community Warden, Sid, played a key part in the operation. Sid offers a reassuring presence in the city, helping to tackle anti-social behaviour and environmental crime. Through his work, he engages with the community to help its most vulnerable people, as well as being on hand to assist with any safety concerns.
The operation led to a number of successful arrests and several illegal e-bikes were seized.
The joint operation is part of our ongoing commitment to work with partners to share resource and information to respond to issues and keep Coventry safe.
The Public Space Protection Order in the city centre requires people to cycle considerately and also requires riders of electric bikes to dismount unless they have a reasonable cause not to (e.g. they have a disability). The area covered by the PSPO is shown in purple on the map below.
 A map of Coventry City Centre highlighting the area subject to the Public Spaces Protection Order for cycling
 An image of children in Coventry
To help children walk and ride to school in safety, Coventry City Council has five school street schemes currently in operation.
Motor vehicles – other than those with a permit or an exemption – are not allowed to enter local roads around the following schools at the start and end of the school day.
- Templars Primary
- Cardinal Wiseman
- Southfields Primary
- Stanton Bridge Primary
- Ravensdale Primary
These will now be joined by three new schemes from April 2026.
- Holbrook Primary School – Gateside Road and Crown Green
- Limbrick Wood Primary School – Bush Close
- Aldermoor Farm Primary School – Pinley Fields
Consultation for these sites will begin later this year, with final plans expected by the end of 2025. Like the first set of schools were this has been introduced there will be camera-based monitoring and updated Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) from the outset.
The next phase of the School Streets programme will be funded from the Active Travel Fund to support the roll-out.
Councillor Patricia Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services, said:
“Our School Streets initiative is making a real difference to families across Coventry.
“We’ve seen safer, healthier school environments, thanks to fewer cars and more children walking, cycling, or wheeling. With phase two sites now set to become permanent and phase three on the way, we’re committed to doing all we can to create safer, calmer streets for all.”
The School Streets programme is a key part of Coventry’s wider efforts to promote active travel, improve air quality, and create more liveable neighbourhoods. Residents are encouraged to get involved in future consultations and help shape the next phase of this growing initiative.
 A man cycling at night with bright front lights
With the darker evenings, make sure you are riding legally and safely with appropriate lights. Cycling UK has put together some helpful advice to help you understand what you need to do to stay safe and within the law.
Remember it is illegal to ride at night without lights and reflectors.
If you need new lights, why not visit your local bike shop?
 A mum and her son riding together on Binley Cycleway
Following the completion of Juniper Park and Coundon Park cycleways, construction has now started on further sections of cycleways in the city.
Work started on the Humber Road section of Willenhall Cycleway on 20 October. You can follow progress and find out more about the scheme here.
On the same date, work on the final section of Binley Cycleway along Clifford Bridge Road moved into the last phase, requiring a northbound-only one-way system for traffic. Find out more about the works and travel diversions in place here.
For information on learning to ride, routes, bike shops visit www.coventry.gov.uk/cycling
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