A BICYCLE group has launched a petition after losing its storage space in one of Bradford’s best-known parks.

HopOn.Bike has been offering cycling sessions in Lister Park since 2016.

A protest was held in the Manningham park on Saturday to allow people who use the service to highlight the impact HopOn.Bike has had on the local community.

The group stores its 80 bikes in a container within the park.

HopOn.Bike has been using the container, which is owned by Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure (BDSL), rent-free for four years, but BDSL now needs it back.

A spokesperson for BDSL said: “BDSL began the process of reclaiming the container in April 2021 and has offered terms to HopOn to continue sharing some space in this container, but with wheelchair propelling cycles, four-person karts and a dozen tricycles to store, space is at a premium.”

The petition, launched last week, has gained over 1,000 signatures.

Shahida Kishver and Fozia Naseem, the founders of HopOn.Bike, said: “What we do is really important, and we want to stay in Lister Park.

“All we need is storage space within the park, as we need at least 60 bikes per session and don’t have the capacity to bring them from elsewhere to the park."

The group is at risk of losing the storage space it uses on December 14, when it will no longer be able to hold sessions in the park.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We understand the frustrations felt by HopOn and we continue to work with them to try and find a suitable solution for them to store their bikes.

“There is nowhere in Lister Park that could house another container without jeopardising the heritage and green flag status of the park. HopOn have been offered shared rental of an existing container by the current owners, but they have rejected this solution.

“We have been in contact with HopOn on a regular basis and are meeting again next week to look at different possible alternatives. So far, we have offered a number of solutions including the use of other green spaces and additional funding through a grant to contribute to a recycled container to store the bikes in a different location. We will continue to help and support as much as we are able to.”

Fozia added: “We need a solution. If we can’t store our bikes in Lister Park, it will be very difficult to offer this service.”