For the wheel: Supporting cycling at St Catharine’s
Monday 24 January 2022
Given the health and environmental benefits of cycling, new initiatives at St Catharine’s are helping students, staff and Fellows to cycle safely. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the College has been able to invest in new equipment and organise a bike maintenance drive.
Professor Sir Mark Welland (2016), Master of St Catharine’s, commented:
“Cycling is a quintessential part of life in Cambridge, with an estimated one in three trips in the city made by bike. I’m delighted that the College is encouraging our students, staff and Fellows to cycle safely by introducing new equipment and a bike maintenance drive this term. I’m grateful to our staff for driving this initiative and to our donors for their ongoing generosity, which has enabled us to care for our community’s wellbeing and promote environmentally responsible travel in Cambridge.”
New delivery bike for the Housekeeping team
The Housekeeping team is based out of the Hobson’s building on the Island site but is responsible for cleaning all College properties across central Cambridge. Until recently, it could be challenging for housekeepers when transferring supplies between different properties, often in quantities that were too large to move on foot but too small to justify using a vehicle.
“Many of the College’s properties are far easier to access by bicycle, such as the Boathouse and our off-site student accommodation. I travel into work every day by bike, so I would volunteer to make the trip using my own bike if we had supplies that needed moving in a hurry. Sometimes my basket and panniers would be full to bursting!”
Clare Butler and Tracey Collins from the housekeeping team with Dolly the delivery bike
Following a request from Tracey and the team, the Master’s Fund has invested in a brand new Kalkhoff electric bike, delivery trailer and heavy-duty lock. The Fund was created in 2021 as a result of a generous donation of £100,000 from Jon (1983, Natural Sciences) and Ann Ardron.
Tracey adds, “I was over the moon when the new, state-of-the-art equipment arrived. Very soon the bike was christened Dolly – my own bikes all have names and ‘Dolly the delivery bike’ has a good ring to it! I’m so glad that Dolly and her trailer are now available for the team to share when we need to move supplies around, helping us work together in a flexible and environmentally friendly way.”
Temporary loans of lights and high-visibility vests
During winter months, it can be easy to get caught out during dark mornings and evenings. To prevent students, staff and Fellows setting off from the College without being visible to other road users, the Master’s Fund has acquired lights, batteries and high-visibility vests.
Kathryn Singleton, the College’s Outreach Manager who proposed the initiative, comments:
“The idea came to me after bumping into colleagues and students who’d had bike lights stolen or who were worried about cycling home in the dark. I wanted to make sure there was a long-term way of ensuring all the cyclists in our community can get home safely! It’s fantastic that the Master’s Fund allows us to do that and I’m delighted that the Master is as enthusiastic about the idea as I am.”
It is now possible to sign out equipment from the Porters’ Lodge on a short-term loan (subject to availability), including:
Battery-powered front lights
Battery-powered rear lights
Yellow cycling gilets
CR2032 batteries
Bike maintenance drive
Mary Simuyandi, Head of Wellbeing at St Catharine’s, is organising maintenance workshops later this term for students who may be new to cycling and unfamiliar with how to keep their bikes in safe condition. In addition, staff and Fellows will be offered the opportunity to have their bikes undergo a mini service via Outspoken, a local bike specialist, to diagnose any safety issues and help extend the life of existing equipment. Further details will be circulated by email in the weeks ahead.
