Bike organisations across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Spokes, are stepping up to help NHS and other key workers get to work by bike – the offers and support that we know of are listed in this article.
Spokes support for Covid-19 key workers
GETTING BIKES TO KEY WORKERS
Spokes is donating £1000 each to The Bike Station and to Bridge8Hub, who are setting up schemes to loan or donate bikes to NHS and other key workers in Edinburgh and the Lothians. See below for details and contacts. The Spokes donations will be used to buy locks to go with the bikes and/or to help the schemes in any other way. Spokes is able to do this thanks to many kind donations from our members (and the fact that we have no staff!)
SPOKES MAPS OFFER FOR KEY WORKERS
Spokes maps are a great way to find nicer routes to work or for local leisure. Normal shop price £6.95, but we will send maps post-free to NHS and all other key workers for £5. Initially we can only take orders by post, not online. Please include a sentence or two about your role.
Orders to: SPOKES, St. Martin’s Centre, 232 Dalry Road, Edinburgh EH11 2JG. Due to our own covid restrictions, there may be a delay of a week or two in dealing with your order.
If you ask we’ll also send you the 2020 Midlothian edition when published
General advice & info on cycling and covid
See our website article here.
Offers from local bike businesses/organisations – Edinburgh
- The Bike Station … Offer details ‘Hero Bikes‘ scheme offering a free recycled bike + accessories to key workers [as defined by government]. More info – press release. Spokes has donated £1000 to this scheme. More cash is needed – you can help here.
- Bridge8Hub/BikesForRefugees The entire Bridge8Hub 25-bike fleet has now been loaned out to key workers. They are now working on a Scotland-wide website to put key workers in touch with householders who have a spare unused bike. Email them if you can loan or donate a bike.
- Leith Crops in Pots … Offer Refurbished bikes for Key Workers [also doing lockdown food delivery by cargobike]
- Bridgend Farmhouse … Offer details Bike loan for Key Workers
- Edinburgh Bike Coop … Offer details NHS staff – free puncture repair including new inner tube if needed; 50% off basic or standard service
- Edinburgh Festival of Cycling … EdFoC hires out an Urban Arrow Cargobike. During the pandemic, hires are free to Third Sector organisations involved in key work
- Leith Cycle Co. … Free bike repair, with priority booking, for NHS staff in Leith area
- Electric Cycle Co. … Free bike service, lights, helmets and jacket courtesy of Madison
- Most shops don’t have special deals, but the very fact of staying open in these difficult times helps key workers and indeed everyone who uses their bike for essential work, shopping and/or their local leisure exercise outing. So, thanks to Edinburgh Festival of Cycling for a map showing which bike shops are open [shown in yellow]. It may be worth checking opening times before visiting.
Offers from local bike businesses/organisations – Lothians
- East Lothian – Belhaven Bikes … Offer details ‘Cycling Care package’ includes free bike service, jacket, lights
- West Lothian – WL Bike Library … Offer details Free bike hire
Scotland-wide and/or UK-wide
- Bikes for Refugees has set up an online bike loan (or donation) service where anyone can offer a bike and key workers can request a bike. Open to anyone in Scotland, though offers likely to be mainly Edinburgh/Glasgow.
- Cycling Scotland has provided this list of offers for key workers throughout Scotland.
- Sustrans has published an online map showing (a) open bike shops and (b) offers for key workers throughout the UK
Please let us know of any other bike-related local offers for key workers
Please spread the word of these offers by retweeting our tweet