Newsroom

brompton bike hire NHS
Two wheels to the rescue

Brompton have committed to delivering over 1,000 of their iconic folding bikes to front-line health care workers across England to travel to and from work safely.

The initiative started when Brompton launched a crowdfunding campaign called "Wheels for Heroes", which has so far raised over A$285,000 from the public and corporate sponsors. 

Rewards for those who donate range from a virtual high five (£10), a signed letter from the CEO and three days free bike hire (£75), a bike named after you and a place on the factory wall of fame (£250), right up to major sponsorship packages that include a factory tour and ride with the CEO after social distancing measures are lifted.

Brompton had already partnered with St Barts Hospital in London to give staff free bike loans, and the word rapidly spread — with over 500 National Healthcare Service (NHS) staff registering to receive a bike, from Portsmouth, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester.

London NHS staff have also received free access to the city's red Santander bike share service, waiving the 24-hour access fee and giving them free 30 minute trips.

Managing Director of Brompton Bike Hire, Julian Scriven, said: “The take-up of our initial offer of bikes to the NHS has been truly incredible and far beyond our expectations. It has been fantastic to be able to help in a small way and the feedback from the NHS staff has been unexpected and frankly heartwarming.

“We are calling on the Brompton community and on our wider community to get involved where they can. Any support, no matter how small (or large) will make a huge difference to us being able to support the NHS.”

And they plan for this to have a lasting impact beyond the current crisis.

After lockdown, the bikes will continued to be used by NHS for small maintenance fee of £1 per hire and some of them will be donated to hospitals to manage as a fleet or for graduate doctors and nurses.

Brompton Bike Hire will not profit off any of these hires or bikes produced.

Feature image courtesy of WheelsForHeroes.