Lukas (not his real name) found himself in prison for the first time aged 61. He is from Lithuania and has no family in the country, so does not receive visits from his two daughters.
Coming to prison for the first time can be a massive shock. Although he could become animated when spoken to, when we first met it was clear that Lukas was in very low spirits:
Life Cycle UK delivers a Safe Urban Driving Course for HGV drivers, which includes practical 'on-road' cycle training to give drivers a 'real life' experience of a cyclist’s perspective.
The objectives of the course are:
How are you connected to Life Cycle?
I manage Bike Back Bristol and Derby.
What's your earliest cycling memory?
Failing my cycling proficiency!!
What was your first bike?
A nasty small wheeled purple thing but my friend had a beautiful shiny blue shopper that I adored and desperately wanted.
What would your dream bike be?
I've already got my dream bike.
What are your favourite cycling routes in Bristol/UK?
How are you connected to Life Cycle?
I am a back rider with the Two's Company scheme, where the back riders get to go out on tandems due to their visual impairment.
What's your earliest cycling memory?
I remember going out as a child on a little bike with fat wheels, which we called Noddy due to it being red and yellow. I did progress to a larger bike over the years but when I became a teenager, boys became more interesting I suspect! I was also fully sighted at the time so was able to get about however which way I wanted to.
How are you connected to Life Cycle
Voyeur of recycled bikes but so far not seen the one for me. I also volunteer with Bike Minded and Over 55's as a back/middle marker or hanger-on as I qualify as a rider anyway.
What's your earlist cycling memory?
How are you connected to Life Cycle?
I started as a volunteer support rider for Bike Minded. I now help run the bike recycling scheme based at Horfield prison and I work in our youth project which delivers cycling activities at Bristol's adventure playgrounds.
How are you connected to Life Cycle?
I'm a new instructor.
What's your earliest cycling memory?
Learning to ride on the front lawn with my dad.
What was your first bike?
It was green, white, purple and super cool.
What would your dream bike be?
Just one? Impossible to choose! Can I have one that magically transforms from pub bike to racer to folding to cargo to MTB to tourer etc?
What are your favourite cycling routes in Bristol/UK?
How are you connected to Life Cycle?
As a cycling instructor and ride leader.
What's your earliest cycling memory?
Flying over my handlebars and knocking myself out, aged eight, when a stick I was carrying got caught in the spokes. I still have the scar.
What was your first bike?
A very old Raleigh that was too big for me and my father built up the pedals with wooden blocks.
What would your dream bike be?
How are you connected to Life Cycle?
I first got involved as a volunteer 5 years ago, now I’m Development Manager
What's your earliest cycling memory?
Going over the handlebars on my tiny yellow bike with stabilisers. I bawled my eyes out.
What was your first bike?
I was never really into cycling as a child so can’t remember my early bikes – but when I was 15 I got a huge Specialized Hardrock and I’ve had the cycling bug ever since.
How are you connected to Life Cycle?
I am a Trustee.
What's your earliest cycling memory?
Hitting a pothole in an unmade road, and cutting my head so I had to go to junior school with a white head bandage! My teacher asked if I planned to join the Navy!
What was your first bike?
My first teenage/adult bike was a Humber Seater.
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