Dr Bike will see you now: Redcliffe & Temple BID’s free bike safety checks reaches its third year of service

Redcliffe & Temple Business Improvement District (BID) has this summer recognised three years of their Dr Bike initiative, in which people working in these areas can book a slot to have their bike serviced by a Life Cycle mechanic completely free of charge.

Life Cycle is a charity based in Bristol that focuses on providing a range of bike services. From teaching people of all ages how to ride, to mechanic workshops and instructor training, Life Cycle works towards the objective of getting the general public more informed on cycling and the many benefits it has on our health, well-being and environment. To encourage commuting to work via bike, Life Cycle and Redcliffe & Temple BID started working together to run the Dr Bike scheme in 2021, in which employees working within the two areas can have their bike checked by a registered mechanic to fix any issues in the time allocated, such as inflating tyres and adjusting brakes cables and blocks.

In the three years of Dr Bike’s continuous practice, over 1385 bikes have been serviced and with exceptional feedback from customers. In a survey conducted by Redcliffe & Temple BID, 84% of participants reported that they have received an excellent experience, with 98% saying they would recommend Dr Bike to colleagues and 40% saying they have used their bike more as a result of the scheme.

Tom Swinthinbank, Senior Project Manager at Redcliffe & Temple BID, says “We know from our work that businesses, staff and residents frequently use their bikes to get around the BID area but are keen to see cycling levels increase, especially as a mode to travel to work. We’re delighted with the continued uptake of the service and amazing feedback we’ve received.”

Becky Whitlock, Marketing Manager at Life Cycle, adds “We are really grateful for the opportunity to support more people to cycle by removing a key barrier – lack of access to safe, reliable bikes. With a regular income from the project, Life Cycle can transform even more lives through cycling, especially in Bristol’s most disadvantaged communities.”

The success of the Dr Bike scheme in these heavily-populated areas can help Bristol City Council reach its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Efforts have been made over the past few years to make travel into the city centre more sustainable and eco-friendly, such as the implementation of a Clean Air Zone and improvements to public transport routes. With new segregated cycle lanes and remoddled junctions for cyclist prioirty, it has never been easier for people to start riding into work.