Essex Pedal Power – Greenstead, Colchester

Essex Pedal Power is a community-based bike project which will allow residents in Greenstead, Colchester to loan a new bike free of charge. The scheme will provide low cost, sustainable travel modes to key communities within Colchester, increasing access to employment opportunities, higher and further education opportunities via access to the train station and key local services in nearby locations. The programme plans to distribute over 700 bikes which will have a significant impact on the activity levels of local people, improving participants health and wellbeing. Only 3% of people cycle regularly in Essex, although it is a popular form of travel and leisure.

To enable Essex Pedal Power to successfully expand into Greenstead, Colchester funding was initially secured from the Colchester Towns Fund with activation funding then secured from the Active Essex Local Delivery Pilot and NHS Suffolk & North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB).

Applications aren’t open just yet, however you can express your interest in Essex Pedal Power by completing the online form above. A member of the Essex Pedal Power team will get in touch when the application form goes live.

Yes, you do not need to know how to ride a bike to participate in the scheme. Training will be provided free of charge within the local community to those who do not know how to ride a bike or would like to build confidence in cycling on the road. More information on cycle training will be provided if your application is successful.

Yes, there will be free bike maintenance sessions available, where you will be able to learn how to keep your bike in tip top condition.

All bikes will be a new high quality, lightweight hybrid bike suitable for roads and cycle paths. A range of bikes will be available to suit different needs, and we are investigating the potential inclusion of e-bikes and cargo bikes later in the programme.

As part of the scheme, successful participants will receive a bike, as well as a helmet (fitted to the correct size), a gold standard D Lock for safety purposes and a hand pump fitted to the bike frame. Each bike will also come with standard reflective lights and mud guards.

Not at all. Essex Pedal Power will cover the cost of the bike, helmet, lock, hand pump, standard reflective lights and mud guards. Bike Training and Bike Maintenance sessions will also be free of charge.

Please keep an eye on this page it will be updated over the upcoming months.

This is a new partnership scheme which will initially be piloted within the priority area of Greenstead. This area has been selected for a number of reasons including low levels of physical activity and limited sustainable travel options. The aspiration is that Essex Pedal Power will be rolled out to other areas of Essex if successful.

The scheme is currently only open to those people who live in Greenstead.

The bike is initially loaned to participants for a 6 month period. If the bike has been used at least once a week during this time, the applicant is able to keep the bike at the end of the loan scheme.  The Essex Pedal Power team will monitor bike usage via a GPS tracking system, which will provide data on how frequently the bike is used.

Bikes will be monitored by GPS tracking, which will provide a rich picture of data in terms of participants, distance, frequency, and locations being cycled to, which will help inform future strategies within the council. All participants will be issued with helmets and bike locks and additional local community bike storage solutions will be incorporated within the programme as the scheme progresses.