We describe the development, implementation and evaluation of a pilot programme to increase physical activity, through cycling, among children. The programme, implemented in Dunedin, New Zealand, during 2003, comprised three components. The first was a free community based programme to promote safe cycling, it was open to all children aged 4–12 to register for, required access to a safe cycle and helmet, and was conducted on a weeknight at a local park (n=101). The second component targeted children from a low socioeconomic schoolwhowere less likely to have access to the community programme and less likely to have access to a cycle or helmet (n=20). The third and final component was the donatea- bike programme; this componentwas designed to provide cycles for those children from the low SES school who would otherwise not be able to cycle. The lead author was approached to help redesign an existing unstructured cycling programme for children, provided one night each week, lacking trained volunteers, and having a negligible number of children from low socio-economic schools. The objectives of the old programme were to promote cycling as a sport and to teach children skills to improve their safety in cycling.