A number of organisations in Nottingham are coming together to help local key workers and volunteers in their hour of need. Formed as a response to COVID-19, the Nottingham Bike Aid project will provide assistance to those seeking alternative ways of making their commute.
We will be engaging with keyworkers and employers to identify travel needs and provide personalised travel plans.
These will help key workers to identify the best routes for their commute and are especially useful for new cyclists.
Working together
Community Bike Workshop, Nottingham Bikeworks is working to refurbish donated bikes for keyworkers.
cycling charity Ridewise UK will deliver the bikes and offer cycling tips and advice to help commuters feel confident on the road.
For those that prefer, there’s also the option of loaning a bike provided by the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham City Council.
Anyone who is a key worker or volunteer living or working in Nottingham is eligible for help under the scheme.
Supporting key workers to travel safely to work
Commenting on the project, Clare Maltby, our Interim England Director, Midlands and East said:
“We’re pleased to be able to play our part in response to the Covid-19 crisis in Nottingham.
"The Nottingham Bike Aid project is a great example of local charities and the City Council working together to quickly put in place the support that key workers need to travel safely and healthily to work.
"We are thrilled to be able to contribute our expertise in travel planning and engagement to help support those people who are working hard looking after all of us.”
Nottingham City Council is also a key partner in this project.
And they’ve been funding Sustrans to deliver the Access project which has been helping job seekers back into work.
Cycling can support mental health and wellbeing
Commenting on the scheme Councillor Adele Williams, the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Local Transport said:
"I'm really proud that in these unprecedented times, we've been able to work together with our partners to reshape our current jobseeker and business cycle support services to provide help for key workers and jobseekers.
"Cycling can be a very attractive, flexible and affordable alternative mode of transport.
"And now key workers and jobseekers being recruited by key sectors, such as the NHS, health and social care, food retailers and essential manufacturers will be able to benefit from the active travel package we’ve developed.
"As long as social distancing guidance is followed, cycling also offers a great opportunity for daily exercise, and can provide key workers in stressful jobs with an opportunity to unwind, helping to support mental health and wellbeing too.”
Making a difference to those who need to keep moving the most
The project will build on the Emergency Bike appeal initiated by Ridewise to deliver free bikes to keyworkers in recent weeks.
Commenting on the scheme Helen Hemstock, Chief Executive of Ridewise said:
“RideWise are proud to be able to support our communities and our keyworkers through this partnership project.
"We know that this will make a huge difference to the people that need to keep moving the most.”
Ian Keetley, Managing Director at Nottingham Bikeworks said:
“At Nottingham Bikeworks we are excited to play our part in enabling Key Workers in our community to travel safely as they continue to perform their vital roles in tackling the effects of Covid-19.
"Unfortunately during lockdown, we have had to suspend our community projects.
"However it is great to see our facilities, skilled mechanics and volunteers not going to waste as the refurbishing of bikes to support this fantastic project gets underway.”
Want to know more about the project?
Please email access@sustrans.org.uk if you are a worker or employer and wish to find out more.
Please contact Ridewise or Nottingham Bikeworks on customerservices@ridewise.org.uk or admin@nottinghambikeworks.org.uk directly if you would like to donate a bike to the project.
