YORKSHIRE staged arguably the greatest of all Grand Departs of the Tour de France this summer, and a new initiative bringing a network of bike libraries across the county is set to keep the wheels firmly in motion.

The Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries scheme will ask people across the county to donate their old, unused or unwanted bikes at one of a number of designated donation stations before they are restored to working order for people to borrow in the New Year.

Legendary five-time Tour de France winner Bernard Hinault was joined by Yorkshire cycling royalty in the form of Mirfield’s Brian Robinson, the first Briton to finish the Tour, and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Scott Thwaites, another proud Yorkshireman, to officially launch the project.

Yorkshire Bank and Welcome to Yorkshire have joined forces in a three-year deal to help the Cycle Yorkshire initiative achieve its goal of trying to provide everyone, regardless of circumstance, with access to a bike.

And Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity insists the partnership with Yorkshire Bank will provide a big step towards achieving their cycling provision ambition.

“I’m delighted that Yorkshire Bank shares our passion for helping everyone in Yorkshire to have access to a bike,” said Verity.

“They’re turning this dream into a reality and we need the public to help us do the same by donating bikes that perhaps have been sat in a garage gathering dust.

“Two years ago pretty much as now it was announced the start of the Tour de France would be in Yorkshire so it is fantastic we have another equally historic announcement and it is all part of the journey to make Yorkshire the cycling capital of Europe.”

The bike amnesty, where people will be encouraged to donate unwanted bikes, will stand as the first stage of the project, while community and not-for-profit groups will then bid for funding to run their own bike libraries, from which donated bikes will be fixed and rented.

And having seen just how cycling mad the county is, Hinault, the last Frenchman to win the Tour, believes this project will provide the perfect opportunity or the legacy to continue.

Hinault said: “The Tour in Yorkshire was incredible. I have never seen so many people out supporting the riders and it shows the passion for cycling here.

“That’s why this project is so important, as it can give our next generation the chance to experience cycling. I’d encourage anyone who can help to do so.”

At 84-years-old, Robinson stands as a prime example of the cycling heritage possessed by Yorkshire and he is confident there will be many more following in his footsteps with the project’s help.

"To be able to provide people access to a bike, even for a few days, is great because it gives them an idea of what a bike may mean to them," he said.

"It really is a good form of transport and it doesn't use any fuel. To expand it to the whole of Yorkshire is going to be great.

"When I started it was war time and I had to knock on doors to get a bike, it was really difficult, but now that bikes are easier to get and with this scheme, more and more people will be able to get involved."

PLEASE LEAVE IN FINAL PAR - For more information on the Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries initiative please go to:www.bikelibraries.co.uk

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