Harrie was left disabled after a car crashed into her while she was cycling in 2017.
A Salford University researcher who was left permanently disabled after a bike crash is raising money to make cycling more accessible in Manchester.
PHD student Harrie Larrington-Spencer, 30, has set up a Crowdfunder to buy E-Trikes which can be loaned out to those who need it, for three months at a time.
Harrie, who lives in the city centre with her husband Caglar and dog Frida, suffered a brachial plexus injury after a car crashed into her while she was cycling in 2017.
Harrie recently went shopping in York to test out the E-trikes.
Speaking to The Manc, she said: “I was left disabled after a car overtook me and turned left when I was cycling in Manchester a few years ago.
“The muscles in my left hand are no longer fully functioning, and it became impossible to ride a normal bike.”
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Luckily, Harrie could afford to buy a suitable alternative, but this is not the case for everyone.
“Cycling is cheap – unless you’re disabled, and need anything other than a standard two-wheel cycle,” she added.
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“I recently ordered a trike so I can continue to transport my dog Frida safely now she is a massive 5kg and it cost the equivalent of a brand-new small car.
“By being able to provide an e-trike free of charge to disabled people on loan for a number of months, Walk Ride GM will provide an opportunity for people to experience the joy of cycling and to work out whether and how cycling can fit into their lives, without having to make a huge initial investment.”
Harrie recently ordered a trike so she can continue to transport her dog Frida safely.
Harrie set up the fundraiser on behalf of Walk Ride Greater Manchester – a group whose aim is to make walking, cycling and other active travel modes modes the natural choice for journeys across Greater Manchester.
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So far, the Crowdfunder has raised £10,461 from 164 supporters, with matched funding which Harrie secured from M&S.
She added: “I can’t believe how much has been raised so far. I’m amazed by people’s generosity, especially given the pandemic.”
The more money raised, the more E-Trikes can be purchased.
Funds will go towards the cost of trike insurance and maintenance, in addition to the trikes themselves.
Walk Ride Greater Manchester will also ensure that there is a package of support around disabled people who borrow the trike, such as route planning and buddy cycling.
Since then, a number of schemes have been implemented, including in June 2017 when Mobike started a bike-sharing scheme across the city, allowing users to hire bikes via its app.
The service was suspended in 2018, with high levels of vandalism reported.
Meanwhile, Transport for Greater Manchester aspire to “achieve at least a 300 per cent increase in the levels of cycling across the city region by 2025” as part of a cycling strategy.
A new £85m cycling project has been outlined and will bring 55 miles of protected routes and 140 new crossings to roads across Greater Manchester by the end of 2021.
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Significant disruption in Manchester city centre as water pours down Portland Street
Daisy Jackson
A burst water main in Manchester city centre is causing ‘significant disruption’ today, with Piccadilly Gardens and Portland Street both closed.
Water can be seen pouring down Portland Street with a large crack visible in the road’s surface.
As a result of the leak, Bee Network buses are having to be rerouted and a huge number of routes are disrupted.
Piccadilly Gardens – the city’s main hub for bus connections – has been closed until repair work on the burst pipe is complete.
TfGM said: “A water leak on Portland Street is causing significant disruption in the city centre.
“Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens will be closed until further notice while work takes to repair the pipe.
“This is affecting bus services using Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens.”
Bus routes affected are: 15, 18, 30, 33, 38, 41, 42, 42A, 42B, 42C, 43, 50, 85, 85A, 86, 101, 103, 111, 142, 143, 191, 197, 250, 255, 256, 263, Free bus 1 and Free bus 2.
The burst water main on Portland StreetBoth Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens are closed
A United Utilities spokesperson said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by a burst water main on Portland Street.
“Customer water supplies have not been affected, and our teams are on site working to isolate the damaged main and complete repairs as quickly as possible.
“We are working closely with the police, TfGM and the council to manage disruption and reopen the road as soon as possible.”
Manchester GPs can now ‘prescribe’ cost of living support to residents
Emily Sergeant
GPs are now able to offer prescription-style support with the cost of living to residents in Manchester.
It’s no secret that the cost of living crisis has, unfortunately, been continuing to make itself known across the country for the past couple of years, and despite recent Government intervention in the form of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s series of ‘everyday fixes’, it sadly doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
But now it’s been revealed that Greater Manchester residents can be ‘prescribed’ cost of living support when they visit their local GP.
For patients who patients need help with bills, debts, benefits, or affording food, GPs can now provide them with details of Manchester’s free cost of living advice line.
That means that, for anyone whose mental or physical health is being affected by financial worries, GPs can simply tear a page that contains all the details they need for the advice line from a block that looks like a prescription pad, and hand it to the patient.
Alternatively, the GP can also ‘refer’ the patient straight into the service online in a similar way to making a referral to a specialist or consultant.
Manchester GPs can now ‘prescribe’ cost of living support to residents / Credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya | Mylo Kaye (via Unsplash)
Once a resident makes contact with the free cost of living advice line – which started back in October 2022, and has helped thousands of people since – they can receive a wide range of advice on issues like energy costs and rent, to help with getting online, and so much more.
The Council also says that recent figures show there is an increasing number of calls or requests around help with rent or benefits and support with food or foodbanks, which is why it has chosen to introduce this ‘innovate’ move.
“We don’t want anyone to feel like they are becoming lost under competing financial pressures, worries about putting food on the table, or keeping a roof over their heads,” commented Cllr Tracey Rawlins, who is the Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council.
“We really want to help before worries become a problem,” she added. “The team on the advice line keep all information in confidence and they want to help.”
Sam Ormiston -
1st December 2020 
