NHS Forth Valley key workers offered free roadside bike repairs

Forth Environment Link hopes The Bike Medic scheme will encourage health service staff to keep on cycling to and from work during the coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative, which begins today, was set up following a surge in the number of NHS workers in Falkirk district commuting by bike or e-bike.

Nearly 80 health professionals are currently borrowing electric bikes from Forth Environment Link’s bike lending library.

A further 300 bicycles are available to key workers for free through the charity’s public bike share schemes, Nextbike Stirling and Forth Bike.

The free call-out service will cover the Forth Valley region and operate in a similar way to car breakdown recovery, with bikes being repaired at the roadside or taken away for repair.

Onward travel will also be covered, so if a bike can’t be easily fixed, cyclists will be offered a courtesy bike to allow them to finish their journey or receive a lift to work.

Ray Burr, Forth Environment Link active travel coordinator, said: “It all began when a local nurse approached us at the beginning of lockdown for help fixing her bike.

“We offered her an e-bike from our free lending library while her bike was in for repair and that snowballed into us providing 75 electric bikes for key workers, as well as wraparound cycling advice and support.

“Since lockdown began, we’ve been inundated with enquiries from key workers wanting to ditch the car and get in the saddle and we’ve been only too happy to support them to make that change a reality.”

Clara Walker, the charity’s executive director, said: “During lockdown we’ve witnessed a massive surge in cycling as people embrace active travel for both work and leisure.

“For the sake of our health and that of the planet, let’s make this change in commuting behaviour a lasting legacy of the pandemic.

“Rather than reaching for the car keys during the wet, cold winter months, The Bike Medic scheme will give NHS staff the confidence to keep cycling, knowing that we’ve got their back covered if their bike breaks down on the way to or from a shift.”

NHS Forth Valley has praised the charity’s support.

Medical director Andrew Murray said: “Our staff have responded very positively to the offer of a free loan of one of Forth Environment Link's e-bikes to get to work during lockdown restrictions and this scheme recognises that not everyone may be comfortable with fixing a puncture or chain in the rare event of a breakdown.

“The creation of the bike mechanic role offers a strong degree of comfort, safety and support which we hope will be a deciding factor for people to get on their bikes and cycle to and from work and for leisure as we move into autumn and winter.

“Feedback from our staff so far has been really positive with staff telling us their fitness has improved, but also the bikes have helped their mental health and wellbeing too. At such a challenging time as this, this is very encouraging.”

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