A GROUND-BREAKING project which aims to get more women in Darlington cycling is set to get moving this weekend.

Darlovelo has already secured a £33,000 grant from Bike Hub to buy and maintain a fleet of 40 Dutch-style bikes to hire out at a reasonable rate to residents in the hope of establishing a culture of relaxed cycling in the town.

If successful, the not-for-profit project will be in line for a further £33,000 from Bike Hub, a industry funded organisation set up to promote cycling, next year.

This money would be used to expand the fleet to 80 and it is hoped the project would then become self-funding.

The idea for the scheme has come out of the Beauty and the Bike project, a documentary film and photography exhibition which examined the barriers preventing women and girls from cycling in Darlington.

Film-maker Richard Grassick said the project decided to establish a pool of Dutch-style bikes for the girls in the project to hire for a low rent as they felt they filled the girls’ requirements of being a stylish way to cycle.

“We came up with the idea because the bikes went down so well with the girls, and caused such a stir when they were seen riding them, it suggested more girls and women might start cycling if stylish bikes were available for an affordable rate,” he said.

“This is a kind of gift to Darlington from the Beauty and the Bike project. We would really like to see the establishment of a culture of a more relaxed, everyday way of cycling in the town.

“We are going to make them available for a very affordable, long term rate of rent.

“We also think it is important there is a social aspect to the project to give women and girls who cycle support. Darlovelo will have events for members including bike rides, social evenings and film nights.

“It is also important it is member-led. We want the project to be run by the people who ride the bikes.”

* On Saturday, Darlovelo’s constitution will be established at its inaugural general annual meeting at Darlington Media Workshop, Darlington Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace, at 4pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend.