Essex Pedal Power launched in Clacton and Jaywick Sands in June 2021, with funding to giveaway 1,300 bikes, each with a GPS tracker, helmet, lock, pump, and lights. Every eligible applicant has free access to training in learn to ride, cycle confidence, and bike maintenance sessions and a number of informal cycling groups have since emerged, which offer regular social bike rides. Essex Pedal Power has already distributed hundreds of bikes to eligible residents in Clacton and Jaywick Sands and the operation is currently scheduled to run until March 2025.
In addition, the Essex Pedal Power Wheels for All project has been approved for Tendring. This £500,000 project will provide cycling opportunities for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions across Tendring.
Since launching, Essex Pedal Power has already made a positive impact to the lives of those who have received a bike, as well as creating new community cycling groups, a brilliant cohort of volunteers and regular learn to ride training sessions. Statistics show that riders have increased their life satisfaction score, decreased their anxiety score, and significantly decreased their car journeys.
Currently, each week there is an average of:
- 1,130, cycle rides
- Between 8 and 9 cycle rides per rider
- 2.4km cycled each trip, per rider
Essex Pedal Power in Clacton and Jaywick Sands, is a partnership of Active Essex Local Delivery Pilot, Essex County Council, The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS), Tendring District Council, Community Voluntary Services Tendring, Sport England, Cycling UK and local stakeholders and community groups.
How to join the waiting list
We’re overjoyed with the response we’ve had to the Essex Pedal Power programme in Clacton & Jaywick since June 2021. Due to its huge success so far, we unfortunately do not have enough bikes to meet the demand and can’t guarantee you will receive a bike once you have applied. However, we do not want this to discourage you from joining our waiting list, if you are interested in joining the Essex Pedal Power community and becoming a regular cyclist!
The project will initially loan a brand-new bike free of charge to eligible residents within Clacton and Jaywick Sands for a period of 6 months. If the bike has been used regularly during this time, the applicant will be able to keep the bike at the end of the loan. The Essex Pedal Power team will be able to monitor the bike usage via a GPS tracking system, which will provide data on how the bike is used.
Essex Pedal Power has identified wards within Tendring where residents will benefit most from becoming a regular cyclist. Residents living in wards Bluehouse, Coppins, West Clacton and Jaywick, Pier, St Osyth, St James and St Johns, will be given priority.
We have a limited number of bikes available so they will be released in phases, and there will be no guarantee you will receive a bike.
In the meantime, there is still lots to get involved with, including free cycle training and led rides where we can lend you a bike to take part. There are lots of opportunities to volunteer in bike building, supporting training and led rides, or to help build a local cycling club. Please keep an eye on Active Essex’s social media for future details on how to get involved or join the Essex Pedal Power Community Group on Facebook here.
