SOUTHAMPTON residents are being urged to learn to love their bikes again in a drive to increase cycling.

City cycling groups are joining forces to put on Big Bike Revival events in Southampton, providing bike check-ups, maintenance workshops, led rides and road craft sessions.

The aim is to encourage the 42 per cent of the population who own a bike but never use it to rediscover the joy of cycling.

As reported Southampton City Council have launched a ten year £25m plan to improve the city's cycling infrastructure.

Now organisers say all Big Bike Revival events are free and are designed to compliment each other to make cycling a more feasible option of transport. And they say it "makes sense for our health and the environment."

Eleanor van der Hoest from cycle training company Sound Cycling said: “Some people feel nervous of riding in traffic. We are offering two hour tasters in road craft tuition that equips you to take a bicycle on the road. Knowledge of current best practice gives us confidence to take our place among other traffic.

"The more people cycle and walk, the more people-friendly the roads will be for all.”

During the Big Bike Revival, bike repairers from Southampton Repair Cafe will be offering free bike repair and maintenance sessions, and members of Southampton Cycling Campaign are leading rides around the city to explore quiet and pleasant routes.

Angela Cotton from Transition Southampton said: “We’re delighted to be involved with the Big Bike Revival, so if you have an unloved bike sitting gathering dust in your shed or garage, bring it to us and we’ll help you get back up and running."

Last year, Big Bike Revival events around the country reached more than 64,000 people, fixed around 1,600 bikes and helped around 18,500 take up cycling as a regularly activity.

This year, the project is aiming to reach more people, restore more bikes and get more folks on their saddles.

Currently only 17 per cent of people in Britain cycle at least once a week, despite 25 million people owning a bike.

The Big Bike Revival runs until July 28

It is run by Transition Southampton, Southampton Repair Cafe, Southampton Cycling Campaign and Sound Cycling

Details of events:

MAY

19 - Bike repairs at Southampton Repair Cafe, 10.30-13.00 St Denys Community Centre

20 - Led ride: "pleasant potter in the parks (with picnic)" 2-4pm, meet children's play area, Southampton Common

29 - Stall at Environmental Rock, The Hobbit pub. Try our fun quiz to win bike-related goodies and find about about our upcoming events and how to book free cycle tuition.

JUNE

2 - Bike repairs at Southampton Repair Cafe, 10.30-13.00 Freemantle URC, 257 Shirley Rd SO15 3HS

6 - Led ride: "slow and sedate ride around Shirley" 2-4pm, meet ParkLife cafe, St James Park, Shirley

11- Led ride: "leisurely ride around the Common and Sports Centre" 6.30-8.30pm, meet The Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre, the Common, Southampton SO15 7NN

16 - Led ride: "relaxing riverside ride" 2-4pm, meet on the ramp to Riverside Park, near Bitterne Park Triangle.

17 - Let's Ride: join the HSBC City Ride around Southampton and find our stall in East Park, 10am-3pm. Try our fun quiz, win bike related freebies and find out how to book our free cycle tution

21 - Try-a-bike at Clean Air Day, 3-6pm Southampton Guildhall, a chance to try cargo bikes, electric bikes and more

JULY

7 - Bike repairs at Southampton Repair Cafe, 10.30-13.00 Freemantle URC, 257 Shirley Rd SO15 3HS

14 - Try-a-bike at St James Park summer festival with balance bikes and more, St James Park, Shirley 11am-4pm