Everyday pedal pioneer: Fran

Hi I’m Fran and recently, I’ve joined Preston Pedals Board of Directors. My cycling story started as a child of the 1980s, with stabilisers in the back garden. We played on the street with friends, riding round the block or at the BMX track on Haslam Park in Ashton. One of my brothers had a great little ‘stunt’ bike that we all wanted to ride. I can still remember my brother falling off into a big patch of nettles by the track because, he said, “It was me or the bike and I didn’t want the bike getting hurt”.

I grew up seeing my Dad being a year round cycle and train commuter, mostly on his trusty Raleigh Connoisseur. Him and my Mum always had bikes and had cycled long-distance routes in Scotland and France in the past. As kids, they would sometimes carry us on child seats on their bikes. And I can remember my Nanna talking warmly of the bike which had made her life easier for errands and getting about in the 1950s and 60s. Looking back, I was lucky to grow up in an environment where day-to-day cycling was normal and also in an era where we had freedom to play out in the streets as kids. 

I don’t think I’m alone in having a phase in life when I unconsciously became very car-dependent, nor in it taking a big life change to help me to reassess choices. Reintegrating cycling into my daily life has been an overwhelming benefit and I’m keen to share this with others. The issues can feel huge and very entrenched, both in our physical road network and societal attitudes. However, I believe that there are many small, feasible changes that could help start the process of rebalancing priority and respect towards walking, cycling and sustainable forms of transport. Other cities within the North of England are starting to see more profound changes and I feel that Preston should be aspiring to keep pace with this progress, to help make our city a place where people of all ages and abilities can feel safe and able to cycle. Our Preston Pedals’ Glow Ride in October 2025, which I led on as part of the national Cycling UK campaign, helped celebrate cycling in Preston with over 60 cyclists helping raise the importance of cycling safety.