WALKING & CYCLING
The Latest Government measures allow unlimited forms of exercise. This includes running, walking or cycling. People living in England can sit in parks with members of your household. Groups of up to six people from different households can also walk, cycle and sit outside together as long as you stick to the recommended 2-metre physical distancing guidelines. Cycling and walking remain an easy way to stay fit, keep active and travel to work.
There is lots of support and advice available to help you plan your route, borrow a bike and learn how to cycle safely.
Support available
Better by Bike - Official cycling website for Bristol, Bath & NE Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Discover great maps and rides suitable for all levels of abilities, bike shops, loan bikes schemes, infrastructure projects, local cycling news, and upcoming events.
Journey Planning - you can use the Better by Bike Cycle Planner to plan a route or try the Travelwest Journey Planner. You can also get one-to-one personalised journey planning support if you are back at work or heading back to work - Travelwest Free Travel Advice
Walk to Work - The Travelwest website offers some useful hints and tips to make your walking commute an enjoyable and safe experience. travelwest.info/walk/walking-work-tips
Loan Bikes – Travelwest are offering two week loans for e-bikes and 1 month loans for hybrids/folding bikes. A £250 deposit is required for e-bikes and £100 for hybrids, plus photo ID and proof of address. Bikes are collectable from the Create Centre or delivery can be arranged. To sign up see betterbybike.info/start-cycling/get-a-bike/loanbikes
Cycle training – Lifecycle have recommenced 1-to-1 socially distanced cycle training sessions. These are bookable through contacting the Travelwest team at travel.roadshow@westofengland.org
Love to Ride - Our friends at Love to Ride have loads of information for those who cycle, are new to cycling or want to get started. They've recommended a few good online videos from Urban Limits TV to help those new to cycling.
For online videos and advice on cycling safely see:
www.lovetoride.net/bristol/tips
www.youtube.com/user/UrbanLimitsTV/playlists
www.ride-healthy.com/essential-skills
Dr Bike checks – the West of England councils are offering free bike maintenance checks on-site at workplaces or community locations. The mechanics can provide socially-distanced half day (4 hour) sessions providing a minimum of 8 appointments. To book a Dr Bike service for your workplace or community group contact transport.policy@southglos.gov.uk, South Gloucestershire Council.
Cycles for key workers – many bike shops and organisations are offering free or discounted bike sales, loans or servicing to key workers. See Sustrans' ‘Cycles 4 Key Workers’ map to browse an interactive map of cycle offers and discounts currently available. www.sustrans.org.uk/campaigns/cycles-for-key-workers/.
Cycle to Work scheme – most employers offer staff tax reductions on buying bikes, accessories and clothing to enable them to start or continue commuting by bike through a Cycle to Work scheme. There is no longer a £1000 cap so E-bikes can more easily be purchased through the scheme as well as standard cycles. Check with your workplace whether they are signed up or check out some of the popular providers:
Cycle Scheme also has a Covid-19 advice hub with links to bike retailers if you are struggling to find bike shops with the stock you need, links to trustworthy bike maintenance help and cycle safety advice. www.cyclescheme.co.uk/covid-19
Road space measures - The West of England councils are implementing temporary road space measures to enable social distancing whilst walking and cycling. Sustrans have created ‘Space to Move’, a map-based tool plotting all road space reallocation schemes in the UK and are inviting people to feed back on the schemes that affect them. www.sustrans.org.uk/space-to-move/
South Glos Council is welcoming any useful suggestions to help people maintain social distancing (improvements to the highway, footway and cycling infrastructure).
Bristol City Council has launched an interactive mapping tool launched to help capture views on transport across Bristol. You can add comments & ideas to the map online, to help maintain social distancing & create better spaces for walking and cycling. Bristol Cycling Campaign was also compiling a ‘Widen my path’ map of suggestions for walking and cycling improvements to feed into Council schemes and all comments have been added to the Council map.
Join My Journey – the West of England car share website also helps you find walking and cycling buddies living nearby or along your route to share your journey with for route recommendations or safety. Find your employer’s site or register your company at www.joinmyjourney.org
The Latest Government measures allow unlimited forms of exercise. This includes running, walking or cycling. People living in England can sit in parks with members of your household. Groups of up to six people from different households can also walk, cycle and sit outside together as long as you stick to the recommended 2-metre physical distancing guidelines. Cycling and walking remain an easy way to stay fit, keep active and travel to work.
There is lots of support and advice available to help you plan your route, borrow a bike and learn how to cycle safely.
Support available
Better by Bike - Official cycling website for Bristol, Bath & NE Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Discover great maps and rides suitable for all levels of abilities, bike shops, loan bikes schemes, infrastructure projects, local cycling news, and upcoming events.
Journey Planning - you can use the Better by Bike Cycle Planner to plan a route or try the Travelwest Journey Planner. You can also get one-to-one personalised journey planning support if you are back at work or heading back to work - Travelwest Free Travel Advice
Walk to Work - The Travelwest website offers some useful hints and tips to make your walking commute an enjoyable and safe experience. travelwest.info/walk/walking-work-tips
Loan Bikes – Travelwest are offering two week loans for e-bikes and 1 month loans for hybrids/folding bikes. A £250 deposit is required for e-bikes and £100 for hybrids, plus photo ID and proof of address. Bikes are collectable from the Create Centre or delivery can be arranged. To sign up see betterbybike.info/start-cycling/get-a-bike/loanbikes
Cycle training – Lifecycle have recommenced 1-to-1 socially distanced cycle training sessions. These are bookable through contacting the Travelwest team at travel.roadshow@westofengland.org
Love to Ride - Our friends at Love to Ride have loads of information for those who cycle, are new to cycling or want to get started. They've recommended a few good online videos from Urban Limits TV to help those new to cycling.
For online videos and advice on cycling safely see:
www.lovetoride.net/bristol/tips
www.youtube.com/user/UrbanLimitsTV/playlists
www.ride-healthy.com/essential-skills
Dr Bike checks – the West of England councils are offering free bike maintenance checks on-site at workplaces or community locations. The mechanics can provide socially-distanced half day (4 hour) sessions providing a minimum of 8 appointments. To book a Dr Bike service for your workplace or community group contact transport.policy@southglos.gov.uk, South Gloucestershire Council.
Cycles for key workers – many bike shops and organisations are offering free or discounted bike sales, loans or servicing to key workers. See Sustrans' ‘Cycles 4 Key Workers’ map to browse an interactive map of cycle offers and discounts currently available. www.sustrans.org.uk/campaigns/cycles-for-key-workers/.
Cycle to Work scheme – most employers offer staff tax reductions on buying bikes, accessories and clothing to enable them to start or continue commuting by bike through a Cycle to Work scheme. There is no longer a £1000 cap so E-bikes can more easily be purchased through the scheme as well as standard cycles. Check with your workplace whether they are signed up or check out some of the popular providers:
- Cycle Scheme www.cyclescheme.co.uk,
- Bike 2 Work www.bike2workscheme.co.uk,
- Halford’s Cycle2Work www.halfords.com/halfords-for-business/business-cycle-to-work-page,
- Evans’ Ride-to-work www.evanscycles.com/b2b/ride-to-work
- Green Commute Initiative www.greencommuteinitiative.uk
Cycle Scheme also has a Covid-19 advice hub with links to bike retailers if you are struggling to find bike shops with the stock you need, links to trustworthy bike maintenance help and cycle safety advice. www.cyclescheme.co.uk/covid-19
Road space measures - The West of England councils are implementing temporary road space measures to enable social distancing whilst walking and cycling. Sustrans have created ‘Space to Move’, a map-based tool plotting all road space reallocation schemes in the UK and are inviting people to feed back on the schemes that affect them. www.sustrans.org.uk/space-to-move/
South Glos Council is welcoming any useful suggestions to help people maintain social distancing (improvements to the highway, footway and cycling infrastructure).
Bristol City Council has launched an interactive mapping tool launched to help capture views on transport across Bristol. You can add comments & ideas to the map online, to help maintain social distancing & create better spaces for walking and cycling. Bristol Cycling Campaign was also compiling a ‘Widen my path’ map of suggestions for walking and cycling improvements to feed into Council schemes and all comments have been added to the Council map.
Join My Journey – the West of England car share website also helps you find walking and cycling buddies living nearby or along your route to share your journey with for route recommendations or safety. Find your employer’s site or register your company at www.joinmyjourney.org