#BIKESFORNHS CAMPAIGN A WHEELY BIG SUCCESS!
Following the launch of its #BikesForNHS campaign in April,
social enterprise Hype Merseyside has loaned 186 bikes to NHS
workers supporting the fight against COVID-19.
The organisation - which focuses on getting people involved in
cycling - has also seen 67 unwanted bikes donated by the public
and is still appealing for more, so that they too can be refurbished
and loaned to the NHS workers who applied for the scheme.
The scheme, which received hundreds of applications, was launched
to allow staff on the frontline of the national health crisis save
money by not having to take taxis when public transport wasn’t
available, to save time and allow them to spend more time with
their family (rather than waiting at bus stops and train stations) and
to improve their own health and general fitness.
The #BikesForNHS Merseyside initiative even gained the support
of The Minister of State at the Department for Transport, Chris
Heaton-Harris MP, who described it as a “fantastic scheme” in a
Zoom call with organiser Matt Houghton.
During the call, which also included Jenny Box, Head of Behaviour
Change in England, James Scott, Director of Behaviour Change
at Cycling UK and Alexandra Jarvis, from the Department for
Transport, wider initiatives to encourage people to take up cycling
were also discussed. The success of the initiative with NHS workers
at The Royal Liverpool Hospital, Aintree Hospital, Broadgreen
Hospital, The Walton Centre, Arrowe Park and the Clatterbridge
Hospital has also encouraged other local organisations to invest in
similar schemes.
Magenta Living, the largest provider of affordable housing in Wirral,
has committed £6,000 to provide up to 60 of their residents with a
bike and access to workshops delivered out of Hype Merseyside’s
new unit at the Environmental Innovations Centre in Birkenhead.
their journeys and complete a monthly survey, to feedback on how
having access to the bike has improved their lifestyle.
Matthew Houghton, Chief Executive at HYPE Merseyside, said:
“We set out to loan 100 bikes to NHS staff in the first phase of
the campaign and we exceeded that target by almost double -
186 in total. The response has been incredible and we are proud
to still be supporting the fantastic frontline workers who applied
to the scheme with free, healthy and safe transport until the end
of the year. It is also wonderful to see other local organisations
like Magenta Living recognising the potential health and lifestyle
benefits of cycling and investing in our bikes for their residents.”
Brian Simpson, Chief Executive of Magenta Living said: “I am
thrilled that Magenta Living is supporting this scheme from our
Community Fund, set up to help local organisations, such as
HYPE, during the current COVID-19 crisis. This initiative has
been a great success and we are pleased to support our tenants who
are key workers through this scheme and recognise the fantastic
work they do on the front line.
Hype’s latest project, Hype Urban Bikes, will also open to the public
this month, with bikes available to hire for three or six month
periods, for just £1 per day.
Matthew added: “Cycling is a sustainable, healthy and
environmentally friendly way to travel to work and for leisure. We
believe that it should be accessible to all and our new hire service
puts it much more firmly within people’s reach.
“Bikes will be available to hire out of our new unit at the
Environmental Innovations Centre in Birkenhead.”
For more information visit: https://hypeurbanbikes.co.uk/
The free bikes will be loaned to Magenta Living residents who are
front line workers for three months. They will use Strava to log
8 wirrallife.com