NRG Riverside Supports Essex Pedal Power’s Community Cycling Project

NRG Riverside have provided community cycling project Essex Pedal Power with a transit vehicle free of charge, to assist project delivery in Basildon. Essex Pedal Power (EPP) Basildon is a partnership between Active Essex, Essex County Council, The Active Wellbeing Society, Basildon Council, Sport England and the Mid & South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. EPP Basildon launched in Spring 2023, with funding to give away free high-quality bikes to residents living in areas of deprivation, along with a helmet, lock, pump, and lights.

Essex Pedal Power is reliant on a wide partnership, working together to provide things such as premises, vehicles, cycles and staff time, enabling us to target delivery for people most likely to benefit from cycling. Contributions from partners such as Basildon Council, NRG Riverside and The Active Wellbeing Society have enabled them to achieve important outcomes in health and wellbeing, employability, active travel, environmental sustainability and net zero, civic capacity and volunteering, and community cohesion through a range of cycling-based activities. Through their collaboration with Signpost Basildon has seen 30 local people receive a bicycle to access work and volunteering opportunities. Additionally, the free bicycle scheme has played an important role in reducing the environmental impact of staff travelling to work; giving bikes to Basildon Hospital staff has led to two-thirds fewer car journeys and saved more than half a tonne of carbon dioxide emissions.

NRG Riverside’s provision to this project has been essential in enabling the delivery team to give away over 750 free bicycles to Basildon residents to date. The EPP Basildon team are based at the Basildon Council depot, which functions as a storage and workshop facility. Thus, it is crucial for the team to have access to a vehicle capable of transporting bicycles and equipment to venues across Basildon, Laindon, Pitsea and Vange for weekly “bicycle giveaway” events. These include local green spaces including Northlands Park and Gloucester Park, community centres and Basildon Hospital. In addition, the vehicle is used regularly to facilitate the delivery of cycle training, social bike rides, bike repair sessions and other activities, many of which happen in partnership with other local organisations and community groups. Since launching, the EPP team have run over 250 community events, and the NRG Riverside vehicle has been essential for logistics around most of these.

The Essex Pedal Power mechanic has also used the vehicle to collect bikes from county waste sites that need to be brought back to the workshop for repair or have been donated by community members to be refurbished and regifted to other local people. This is a great example of how our partnership can enable positive change towards sustainability and a circular economy.

“Having the use of the van whenever we needed it has greatly helped with bike deliveries and collections because we haven’t had to factor in time and cost to arrange transport.

When we had an issue with the van Alan from NRG diagnosed the problem and replaced the starter motor within 2 hours. All the staff have been very helpful; when I’ve had problems stripping down old bikes, they’ve lent some larger tools than I didn’t have at my disposal.

Without the help and generosity of NRG Riverside the project wouldn’t have been able to function as smoothly as it has. I’m very thankful that we still have use of the van and I’m looking forward to keeping the working partnership going.”

John, Essex Pedal Power bicycle mechanic

Essex Pedal Power has received funding from Active Essex to continue the project in Basildon for another year, and the NRG Riverside vehicle will remain an asset to the delivery team.