Community transport driving positive change

Power of the Collective

Transport is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, accounting for 31% of emissions in 2018, with road transport contributing for 90%. This figure excludes international air travel.

From 2030 sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned across the UK to support more people to buy or use electric vehicles.

Our national transportation challenge is about more than just replacing the types of cars we use it’s about reducing the need to travel in the first place and changing how we move around, within our towns, cities and across our rural areas.

Throughout the UK, community-led projects are finding ways to encourage sustainable transport, from safer walking routes, affordable cycling, to car clubs and community transportation. The co-benefits are significant and include health and wellbeing through better fitness and improved air quality.

Directly or indirectly, community transport projects can increase the use of public transport and its quality. Community led projects offer benefits for those on lower incomes who rely on public transport services more. With one in four households in England without a car, community transport projects can lead to improved access to work and leisure activities. Research has shown independent mobility through improved access to public transport can improve cognitive skills, social development and emotional intelligence.

Big Birmingham Bikes (BBB) is a project run by the Active Wellbeing Society a community benefit society and cooperative working to build happy, healthy communities living active and connected lives.

Active Wellbeing Society works with communities in areas of high deprivation to tackle inequality and promote community wellbeing, running various free projects including physical and social activity, sharing and reuse of food and household items, social prescribing and telephone support.

Since 2017 BBB has delivered behaviour change, increased rates of cycling by distributing free bikes, improved health and wellbeing, increased access to training, education and workplaces, as well as getting people out of cars helping to reduce pollution and congestion. The project also focuses on helping those the most affected by air pollution and working where there was not an existing cycling culture.

Founded as a part of the city council’s 20-year Birmingham Cycle Revolution strategy, which aims to embed cycling into the mainstream transport offer and increase the proportion of cycle trips to 10% by 2033, BBB adopt a grassroots approach. They teach those with little or no cycling experience to ride confidently around the city.

Residents of eligible postcodes apply for the use of a free bike and are given free cycle training to get them started. Training in bicycle repair is also part of the programme. Volunteers that have been trained act as mentors to help train others (peer to peer support).

BBB has received National Lottery funding for Sport England and has close partnerships with British Cycling and Birmingham City Council. They work with over 50 community groups, mental health and homeless charities and in 2017 BBB were recognised with an Ashden award

In the project’s first 12 months 4,000 bikes were distributed free of charge, 17,000 local residents benefitted from bikes and training events and over 300,000 miles were cycled. The visibility of bikes helped increase participation, encouraging others to take up what they thought they couldn’t do.

The health benefits have also been significant with 1,780 people cycling for at least 30 minutes once a week. Social benefits include increased confidence and the creation of new friends and networks. Importantly a new sustainable behaviour is progressively becoming the new norm within the Birmingham community.

BBB and the organisation’s Bikes Project has continued to grow from strength to strength:

• distributing bikes to key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
• setting up a Bikes on Prescription scheme enabling patients who are the most vulnerable to apply for a bike to improve their mental and physical wellbeing
• delivering Bikeability to schools throughout Birmingham and for families to access in the community
• rolling out a recycled bikes campaign #SaveTheCyles
• delivering an E-Cargo bike project which has involved us deploying bikes in partnership with community organisations to deliver food parcels, donated clothing and sports equipment across the city.

“We know from our work that one of the main barriers to cycling is the cost of a bike,” says Karen, Chief Executive, The Active Wellbeing Society

“Whilst there is significant investment in the overall cycling infrastructure of our cities and places, these improvements cannot be enjoyed if you cannot afford a bike to cycle on in the first place. Our work through BBB has been a genuine collaboration with our citizens.

The co-benefits around improved health outcomes, alongside climate actions and community cohesion all speak for themselves. There are now nearly 8,000 people cycling today who did not have a bike before. They describe this initiative as life changing and we’re proud to be part of that journey with them”.

The Communities Connected ThinkTravel Toolkit provides help and guidance for anyone with an interest in addressing local transport issue.

The government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and the Go Ultra Low campaign provide information on switching to electric vehicles, charging and grants.

Information from Green Alliance on how the UK can lead the electric revolution can be found here

For independent research into the public health benefits of new walking and cycling routes read Fit for Life’s report here.

Transport for London has also published a summary of the economic benefits of active travel infrastructure

Cycling UK has information about starting community cycling clubs and bike maintenance workshops.