Synergy Car Leasing is riding high after collecting 200 unused or unwanted cycles in its role as a bike donation station.

A champion of giving something back, the 50-strong business has handed over adults and children’s unused or unwanted bikes for families at Catterick Garrison and the local community to borrow and enjoy.

The handover is part of the Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries programme launched by Welcome to Yorkshire and Yorkshire Bank as a legacy of the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2014. The initiative aims to make cycling more accessible by giving every child in Yorkshire an opportunity to borrow and ride a bike, free of charge.

A bike donation station since 2018, Synergy has further extended its role in recent months by collecting bicycles from businesses and residents in towns and cities across North and West Yorkshire as well as accepting donations its Hornbeam Park headquarters in Harrogate. 

Welcome to Yorkshire’s Commercial Director, Peter Dodd said: “It’s fantastic that Synergy’s ambitious campaign has been such a huge success, giving more children, who otherwise wouldn’t have access, the opportunity to borrow and ride a bike for free. As a Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries Donation Station, Synergy is going from strength to strength and becoming an invaluable resource to the local community - I hope people continue donating their bikes to the team!”

Neil Brimer, Community Support Development Worker at Catterick Garrison, which has been a bike library since July 2016, said: “It’s been tremendous for us as a bike library to see this project go from strength to strength. A big ‘thank you’ to the Synergy team whose great work will enable even more families to enjoy the cycling and scenery.”

Paul Parkinson, Synergy Car Leasing MD, commented: “We’re delighted to have expanded our involvement by going out on the road to pick up cycles from areas including Bedale, York, Bradford and Leeds and further boost this wonderful community resource making a positive difference.”