Southern Rail offers pedal power to NHS key workers

Coronavirus: Train company works with cycle repair company to recondition abandoned cycles

Southern Rail is working with NHS trusts to match abandoned bikes that are easily serviceable with key workers.

Every month about 20 abandoned bikes arrive at Southern’s maintenance depot in Horsham, Sussex for storage, in case their owners decide to recover them, and the stock of unclaimed bikes is now approaching 300.

GTR’s community relations team planned to donate the bikes to charities that run renovation workshops, but this has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. However, the team identified a programme being run by Handlebars, based at their workshop in the City of London, to renovate bikes and provide them free of charge to NHS key workers.

The Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) company is now working with specialist cycle repair company Handlebars. GTR’s Community Engagement Officer Rob Whitehead has worked with the firm to develop their scheme using the rail company’s ready supply of cycles. Handlebars initially have the workshop capacity to take ten bikes. Its mechanic Andre Noble has visited Horsham depot to pick the ten machines he judged could be ready for safe use most quickly and easily.

While at Horsham, Noble gave all 272 bikes a quick inspection and graded each one according to how easy it would be to get into safe working order.

“Southern saw our campaign and reached out to offer support,” said Andre Noble. “When they mentioned how many bikes are abandoned at stations we were shocked! We have seen a tonne of bikes in various conditions and were happy to help identify problems with the bikes at GTR. Only the safe ones will go out to key workers and the rest will need a bit of love first!”

Angie Doll, Managing Director for Southern and Gatwick Express, said: “We are going the extra mile to help NHS key workers go their final mile, or more, from their station to their place of work, or to travel all the way to and from work by bike if convenient. If you have to travel, cycling at least part of your journey is a great way to keep fit and keep your social distance.

“Partnering with Handlebars is part of a bigger proactive plan to use these unwanted bikes to promote safe, sustainable travel. We are also asking local councils, NHS trusts and hospitals if they know of any demand among their medical staff, care and social workers, and others on the front line, for free bicycles. It would reduce our bike mountain further, and help more key workers stay fit and healthy.”

Southern also intends to give more renovated bikes away to NHS key workers, through projects it is developing with its own contacts with local NHS Trusts and other partners.