Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte’s success in Tokyo shows what can be done with investment in cycling at grassroots level. But if we are to inspire the next Beth or Kye and unlock the potential of cycling to build a more active nation, we must provide more opportunities for young people to get into cycling.

While Beth began at Braintree BMX Club in Essex, Kye started his career at the Peckham BMX Club in south London, alongside his brother Tre Whyte (World Championship 2014 Bronze medallist) and Quillan Isidore (World Junior Champion 2012). The original track in Naylor Road was spearheaded by radio DJ CK Flash and opened in 2004. Peckham BMX Club quickly grew to be the number one BMX club in the UK, with a brand new track at Burgess Park opened in 2013 with funding from the GLA, The London Marathon Charitable Trust, Sport England and Southwark Council. Since then thousands of young people from the area have passed through the gates and followed in the footsteps of Kye, Tre and Quillan.

Joe McTague, Delivery Director of the Making Trax programme for Access Sport said: “The achievements of Peckham BMX Club inspired Access Sport to become involved in BMX cycling in 2011. From its humble beginnings in Bird in Bush Park, CK Flash, Nigel Whyte (Kye’s Dad) and the team created a wonderful community spirit to give young people from this disadvantaged corner of inner city London inspirational role models and a positive space to keep active and out of trouble. Kye’s success in Tokyo shows what can be done with investment in cycling at grassroots level. But if we are to inspire the next Kye Whyte and really unlock the potential of cycling to build a healthier nation, we must provide more opportunities for young people to get into cycling.”

Cycling has a unique role to play in improving health, air quality and congestion, and making cities more attractive and liveable. Cycling can enhance people's quality of life and contribute towards more active and united communities. However, even after all the success at successive Olympic Games and in the Tour de France, cycling has stubborn inequalities that have not shifted and need to be addressed urgently:

• 78% of disabled people never cycle
• 76% of women never cycle
• 75% of people at risk of deprivation never cycle
• 74% of people from ethnic minorities never cycle

Julian Barrell, acting CEO of Access Sport said: “Tackling these inequalities is where Access Sport comes in. We’ve been working with our partners to provide safe, exciting and local places where people of all ages and abilities can build the skills, confidence and love of cycling to last a lifetime. We now have a thriving community of bike tracks and clubs in 21 of the most deprived communities of London, Bristol, Greater Manchester and to come in Sheffield. These are hugely popular facilities that are home to volunteer run clubs like Peckham BMX and also a base for community outreach programmes that ensure everyone gets the opportunity to have a go.”

Lucy Fisher, National Development Manager for Access Sport said: “In partnership with local schools and youth workers we can directly reach those that are inactive, unconfident cyclists, unable to cycle, at-risk and typically underrepresented in cycling. Over and over we see that BMX can reach that audience that other cycling disciplines currently fail to reach.

“Through our outreach programme, we are helping young people develop cycling skills on a safe, off-road inclusive community cycling facility. We have taught many young people to ride a bike for the first time so that they become more confident, kick-starting a lifelong love of cycling that leads to cycling for sport, recreation and travel.”

TOP IMAGE: Access Sport's newest track opened in July 2021 in Little Hulton, Salford. Credit: Tim Ainsworth