The Bee Network Active Travel roadshow team had a brilliant time in Tameside this past Sunday at the vibrant Hyde Mela, where we joined forces with Transport for Greater Manchester to launch their brand-new pledge card initiative.

A Mela, meaning “gathering” or “fair” in Sanskrit, is a celebration rooted in South Asian culture, and Hyde certainly lived up to the name. The event was a joyful fusion of music, dance, delicious food, and a buzzing sense of community.

One of the highlights of the day was seeing children fully embrace the challenge of finding fun, creative ways to stay active each week. From dancing while tidying their rooms to cycling to the park to meet friends, their ideas were as imaginative as they were inspiring. Each child who made a pledge received a cheerful bee magnet to stick their card on the fridge – an everyday reminder to keep bee-ing active.

With well over 5,000 attendees, we had countless conversations throughout the day, but one story truly stood out. We met an inspiring woman who shared her remarkable journey with us. Although she chose not to be photographed, her words left a lasting impression. Despite spending most of her career working in active travel, she had never learned to ride a bike, until she joined a cycle training programme through the scheme in 2014, in her 40s or 50s. She described the experience as “life-changing,” and today, she not only cycles everywhere but has also taken up swimming. Her journey was so extraordinary that it even led her to meet Sir Chris Hoy.

It was a day full of pledges, pedals, and positivity, and we can’t wait for more moments like these that bring communities together and inspire healthy, active lifestyles.