RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Cycle Nation Communities: Increasing Cycling in Glasgow

This study, called "Cycle Nation Communities," is happening in Glasgow. We want to see if a 9-week group cycling programme helps people cycle more often, boosts their health, and improves their general well-being. We'll be comparing it to a single, standard cycling training session. We're looking for adults who don't currently cycle regularly. Participants will be randomly put into one of the two groups. We'll check how people are doing when they start, right after the programme, and again 12 months later. This will help us understand if the longer programme makes a real difference in people's lives and if it's good value for money.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Glasgow

Enrolment target

268

Start

27 May 2025

Estimated completion

01 Feb 2027

Healthy

What is this study about?

Cycling is great for you! It can make your body and mind healthier, reduce your risk of serious illnesses, and help you feel less stressed, fitter, and happier. It’s also a quick way to get exercise. Plus, if you cycle instead of driving, it helps clean up the air, reduces harmful emissions, and eases traffic jams. Even though cycling has so many benefits, most adults in the UK don't cycle regularly.

Many people are interested in cycling more, but there are often things that stop them, like personal worries, what their friends and family think, or problems with cycling routes and safety. Even though making better cycle paths helps, it's not always enough to get lots more people on bikes. While many groups offer one-off or short cycling lessons, these often only deal with one problem at a time. The 'Cycle Nation' programme is different because it's a 9-week group programme that looks at many of these barriers together, aiming to be really effective over time.

This study will carefully measure how well the 'Cycle Nation' programme works compared to a single cycling training session. We want to know if it truly helps people cycle more in the long run and if it’s a cost-effective way to improve public health. The programme has been tried out before in Manchester and Glasgow, and those experiences showed that it's possible to run and that people like it. Now, we need to test it properly to see its full effects over a longer period.

Key takeaways

This study evaluates a 9-week group cycling program in Glasgow.
It's for adults (18+) who don't currently cycle often.
You'll be randomly placed in a group: either the 9-week program or a single cycling session.
The study aims to see if regular cycling improves health and well-being over time.
You need to be able to ride a bike and attend most sessions if in the longer program group.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be an adult (18 years or older) and able to ride a bike. We're specifically looking for people who don't cycle very often – that means less than once a month. You'll need to be happy to sign a form saying you understand the study, take part in some health checks, and be willing to be put into either the longer cycling programme group or the single session group by chance.

You should also have a good understanding of English and be well enough for moderate exercise. There's a short health questionnaire to make sure cycling is safe for you. You'll need to be able to come to at least 6 out of the 9 sessions if you're in that group, and you should plan to still be in the UK until November 2026.

You won't be able to join if you can't ride a bike at all, or if you already cycle regularly (at least once a month). People under 18, or who can't speak basic English, or who have certain health problems that make moderate exercise unsafe also can't take part. If you're not planning to be in the UK until November 2026, or can't attend most of the sessions, this study also won't be for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Can you already ride a bicycle (balance and pedal)?
Do you cycle less than once a month?
Are you able to speak and understand English well?
Are you generally well enough for moderate exercise?
Are you willing to attend sessions and complete questionnaires for about a year?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, your journey will begin with a few checks to confirm you meet the study's requirements. This will include signing a consent form and completing some health questionnaires. Once you're in, you'll be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will take part in the 9-week 'Cycle Nation' programme, which involves regular group sessions.

The other group will attend a single, standard cycling training session. Regardless of which group you're in, we'll ask you to complete some assessments at different stages: once at the very start (baseline), again right after your cycling sessions finish (post-programme), and finally, a year after you started the study. These assessments will involve answering questions about your cycling habits, health, and well-being. There aren't any medications involved, and the total duration of your involvement, including the follow-up, will be about 12 months.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer several potential benefits, such as improving your fitness, general health, confidence on a bike, and potentially helping you cycle more often. You might also enjoy the social aspect of cycling in a group. However, like any physical activity, there's a small risk of minor injuries, such as scrapes or falls, while cycling. The study team will take precautions to make the sessions as safe as possible and will provide guidance. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care or your relationship with the study team.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University of Glasgow
Verified postcode
Glasgow, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'randomly allocated'?

This means you'll be put into one of the two study groups by chance, like flipping a coin. Neither you nor the researchers choose which group you're in.

Do I need my own bike?

The study information doesn't specify, but usually, cycling programmes will provide bikes or have options for borrowing one if you don't have your own. It's best to ask the study team directly.

What kind of health checks will I have?

You'll likely fill out questionnaires about your health and physical activity levels to make sure it's safe for you to take part. There are no invasive medical tests mentioned.

What if I can't cycle at all?

Unfortunately, if you can't balance and ride a bike, this study isn't suitable for you. You need to be able to ride a bicycle to join.

How long will the individual sessions be?

The study brief doesn't state the exact length of each session, but they are designed to fit into a 9-week programme. You can ask the study organisers for more details on session length.

How to find out more

Fernanda Gabler Trisotti, PhD

gallanttravel@glasgow.ac.uk 07886700868 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.