Essex Pedal Power

Tackling inequalities and removing barriers to cycling

 

We work with the local communities across the country to address issues that matter to them and work in partnership to deliver interventions across a wide range of areas from physical activity, community cafés, Share Shacks, jobs and skills, and active travel.

Essex Pedal Power is a community-based project that launched in June 2021 working to tackle inequalities and remove the barriers to cycling. We work closely with Active Essex, Essex County Council, Cycling UK, Wheels for All, local authorities and community groups to deliver Essex Pedal Power – distributing over 5,000 free bikes to eligible local community members across Clacton & Jaywick Sands, Colchester, Harwich & Dovercourt and Basildon.

We work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders with vast amounts of experience and expertise to make cycling accessible to everyone and remove barriers to accessing a bike.

The programme supports people with the provision of a bike, who otherwise may not be able to access one, alongside cycle confidence training, learn to ride and cycle fix it sessions.

So far we’ve seen Essex Pedal Power help and improve physical wellbeing, reduce loneliness and isolation, improve mental health and create access to employment, training, educational opportunities and key local services.

I have met some awesome people and made some good friends through Essex Pedal Power. I love going on led rides set up by Pedal Power and helping the team who run them. This project is changing peoples' lives for the better as cycling is a good exercise for your physical and mental health. I love Pedal Power and will do all I can to help the team.

EPP volunteer and bike recipient

It’s improved my mental health no end.  I feel so much better about myself and I’m getting regular exercise. Everything is much more positive than it was. It’s taken me from being completely isolated to going out and doing more social activity

EPP Bike recipient

This project is changing peoples' lives for the better. I love Pedal Power and will do all I can to help the team

EPP volunteer and bike recipient

Before the bike I was living below the poverty line and had several difficulties, the bike gave me access to transport that I wouldn’t have otherwise necessarily been able to access. I would have found myself walking everywhere with shopping bags as I wouldn’t have been able to afford regular bus fare.

EEP Bike recipient

Other useful resources

Related Services