Essex Pedal Power Harwich & Dovercourt

Essex Pedal Power is a community-based bike project which will allow eligible residents in Harwich and Dovercourt to apply for a new bike free of charge. The scheme will provide low cost, sustainable travel modes to key communities within Harwich and Dovercourt, 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 will be launching in residents in Harwich and Dovercourt in May 2023, with plans to distribute 600 free bikes throughout 2023 and 2024.

Essex Pedal Power Harwich and Dovercourt is a partnership of the Active Essex Local Delivery Pilot, Essex County Council, The Active Wellbeing Society, Tendring District  Council, Sport England, London Marathon Foundation.

Click the “Apply Now” link above to be directed to the online application form. Please contact us via Harwich.DovercourtEPP@theaws.org if you require additional support with the electronic application process.

The information you provide is confidential and subject to the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018. This personal data will be held and processed by Active Essex (Sport and Physical Activity Partnership) and The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) (Reg. number 7595) for the purpose(s) of providing and monitoring the effectiveness of Essex Pedal Power (EPP) and comply with any statutory duty in relation with public health placed on the local authorities, including service communication purposes. The data will also be shared with Essex Highways for transport monitoring. The personal details you provide may also be shared with third parties for the purposes of undertaking research, for the provision of appropriate services, as part of any statutory duties requiring such disclosure and to protect the public funds the Council collects and administers on the basis that they treat the information as confidential. Any data may be used to prevent fraud or the misuse of resources. For further information of our privacy notice, please visit: https://www.essex.gov.uk/privacy-community. You can also contact us if you have additional questions.

A portion of the bikes in Harwich & Dovercourt will be fitted with a GPS tracking system. This will enable the Essex Pedal Power team to monitor how the bike is being used, for data collection and evaluation purposes. Recipients will be selected at random to receive a GPS-tracked bike.

Essex Pedal Power (EPP) have discretion on who receives bikes, and when they receive them. Primarily postcodes will be forefront of eligibility, but need and intended use of the bike will be firmly taken into account. Priority may be given due to the reason for applying for a bike (eg. Cycle to school, referred by locally trusted organisation). Applicants must NOT have access to a working bike already and should note on their application form if they have been referred by an EPP partner. Only permanent residents of Harwich and Dovercourt will be considered. All applicants must commit to cycle regularly with a minimum of once a week.

Adult Bikes Criteria for application process

Adults bikes will be on loan for 6 months. After this period, if deemed still needed and used regularly, the bike will be given to the recipient upon completion of a short survey. Adult bikes may be fitted with a GPS tracker for the purpose of this programme. Bikes should be returned to Essex Pedal Power if they are no longer needed.

‘Learn to Ride’ and ‘Cycling with Confidence’ training will be offered to all adults/families and those unable to ride at all or with confidence should be willing to attend cycle training.

Children Bikes Criteria for application process

Childrens bikes will be loaned for as long as the bike is needed/fits the child. The bikes should then be returned to EPP (as per agreement), where the ‘next size up’ bike can be offered, subject to availability.  We hope to signpost ineligible applicants to upcoming local bike recycle schemes for adult and children’s bikes if none are available via EPP.

‘Learn to Ride’ and ‘Cycle Confidence’ training will also be offered to all children and children (with parental consent) should be willing to attend cycle training if unable to ride a bike or if they have not completed Bikeability level 1 & 2 already. If the child is in school year 4 or below, they need to be able to ride the bike without stabilisers.  If they are in school year 5 and up they will be encouraged to do level 1 & 2 Bikeability training if they have not already done this ( this can have been achieved through their school).

Absolutely! We hope many Harwich & Dovercourt residents will be involved in the Essex Pedal Power community – whether through joining a group bike ride, attending a cycle training session or volunteering with us. You can stay up to date with news and community events by joining our EPP Harwich & Dovercourt Community Facebook group.

If you are not eligible for a bike but want to learn more about how to be involved with Essex Pedal Power Harwich & Dovercourt, email us at Harwich.DovercourtEPP@theaws.org

We are looking for volunteers to help with the local delivery of the project, which includes building and maintaining bikes, helping at bike giveaway events and supporting cycling groups. Please email us at Harwich.DovercourtEPP@theaws.org if you are interested in volunteering.

Yes, you do not need to know how to ride a bike to be involved in Essex Pedal Power. We are working with the Essex County Council Cycle Training team to provide free training to those who do not know how to ride a bike or would like to build their confidence. You can sign up for learn to ride or cycle confidence training when you apply for an Essex Pedal Power bike.

‘Learn to Ride’ and ‘Cycle Confidence’ training will also be offered to all children and children (with parental consent) should be willing to attend cycle training if unable to ride a bike or if they have not completed Bikeability level 1 & 2 already. If the child is in school year 4 or below they need to be able to ride the bike without stabilisers.  If they are in school year 5 and up they will be encouraged to do level 1 & 2 Bikeability training if they have not already done this ( this can have been achieved through their school).

We recognise that there are a range of barriers to cycling that go beyond simply having access to a bike. The Essex Pedal Power team will support you to maintain your bike and teach basic bike maintenance skills.

The Essex Pedal Power bikes are high-quality, lightweight hybrid bikes supplied by Raleigh. They come in our signature orange colour and children’s bikes may come in another colour depending on stock. All bikes are suitable for roads and cycle paths. We have a range of sizes and styles to suit different needs. We are working to explore e-bikes, cargo bikes and adapted cycles as future elements of the programme.

People who receive a bike will also receive a helmet, a gold standard D-lock and a hand pump. Each bike will come with reflectors, bike lights and mud guards.

An adult bike is initially loaned to participants for six months. Providing you use the bike regularly (roughly once per week), you will be able to keep the bike and equipment free of charge. Bikes for children 12 years and under are loaned to the participant for as long as needed. Typically children grow out of a bike within 14 months. Once the bike no longer fits the child, it is to be returned to Essex Pedal Power Harwich & Dovercourt, and where possible, the next size up bike will then be given to the participant on loan for as long as fits.