Our 'get cycling; team

No, not an insult but a programme or free activities to encourage cycling, and to mark cycle to work day. 

Now that the weather’s (a bit) better, we’re delighted to team up with Vandome Cycles and Barking and Dagenham Council to offer free bike checks and training, to children and adults, whether you’re an absolute beginner or an Olympic-inspired racer.

So, this might just be the time to dust off your old bike and get in the saddle.

Funmi Atolagbe, Travel Plan Coordinator at Be First, explains: “Cycling really helps to reduce congestion and in a flat borough like Barking and Dagenham, it’s a really practical way of getting around. It goes without saying that it’s healthy and good for the environment, but it’s also great fun”.

Be First planner, Anna Gibbs, took an improvers course, and said: “I definitely felt like I needed a refresher course to build my confidence to be able to cycle to the office. My training course from Richard at Vandome Cycles was brilliant and I highly recommend it to anyone whether you’re a beginning or want to improve your road skills.”

Vandome Cycling Instructor, Richard Jordan, said: “We teach people at any age and any ability and we offer all the equipment – helmets, bikes, anything you need if you haven’t got your own – and it’s all free.”

We are also working with the Greening the Fiddlers project to offer training and led rides to people that live or work in the Becontree Heath area.

Find out more about what we have to offer by following our series of videos or head straight to the cycling-in-the-borough website.