Active Travel around Chelmsford

Big Bike Revival

The Big Bike Revival aims to encourage new and returning cyclists to get on their bikes through teaching them skills such as learning to ride, fixing bikes and delivering led bike rides.

The project takes place across England and offers a programme of events delivered locally by community groups and organisations that are free for all.

There is an opportunity for businesses and workplaces to get involved in delivering sessions, so contact bigbikerevival@cyclinguk.org for more information.

Bikability

Bikability is a cycle training programme designed to help you gain the skills and confidence to ride a bike. Whether you are a complete novice or want to get back into cycling after a long layoff, there is a course for you.

Courses are offered for children and adults plus handy tips, support and guidance along the way.

Clubs

Community Cycling Clubs are at the heart of Cycling UK’s programme to bring sustainable change, tackle inequalities like social isolation and to encourage more people to cycle. Clubs run in all sorts of places including with groups for older people, young people and veterans, workplaces, refugee charities, places of worship and health centres.

People who have joined a Community Cycling Club reported they were cycling more often, starting to meet physical activity guidelines, feeling healthier, happier and better connected to their communities and starting to use a bike for short journeys and commuting. Cycling UK can provide small grants to set up clubs. If you are interested please contact cycling@cyclinguk.org . You can also visit Cycle UK on Twitter or Cycling UK on Facebook.

Employers, employees and commuting

Becoming a Cycle Friendly Employer will help you attract and retain the most talented workforce by making their commute by bike easier and stress free. Register for your Cycle Friendly Employer accreditation and see your productivity skyrocket.

Check with your employer to see if you are eligible for the Cycle to work scheme. You could save hundreds of pounds towards a new bike and accessories.

Does your commute consist of a train journey along with cycling part of the way? PlusBike is a free resource toolkit designed to seamlessly plan your journey when you take the train and plan to cycle along the way. You can access information regarding cycle facilities at the station including cycling parking spaces, bike hire schemes and information about taking your bike on a train.

Love to Ride

Love To Ride is an international platform which brings the cycling community together. It is free to join and log your rides whether you are a new or regular cyclist. You can see how you are doing compared with other cyclists, set goals and track your cycling. There are campaigns throughout the year and great prizes.

Sofa to 50km

Start by dusting off the bike from the shed and join the Sofa to 50km training plan. Follow the eight week training programme with the end goal of riding 50km and ultimate pride and enjoyment.

Cycling Charter

Show your support for all things cycling in Chelmsford by signing the Chelmsford Cycling Charter. The Charter is backed by the Chelmsford Cycle Forum. By signing up, you encourage council officers and leaders to negotiate for more investment in cycling.

e-scooters

You can hire an e-scooter to get you around the city centre and beyond. This initiative started in 2021, and there are now around 500 e-scooters around the city. You can read more about the e-scooter trial.

Privately owned e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads and land. You can report an illegal e-scooter to the police on 101.

Park and Pedal

The Park and Ride services into Chelmsford now offer Park and Pedal. There is a reduced cost for parking plus the use of a secure locker, providing you cycle the rest of your journey.

Chelmsford is surrounded by countryside and is great for walking. You can view the public rights of way network on the Essex Highways website.

Three long-distance paths go through Chelmsford. These are St Peter’s Way, The Essex Way and the Saffron Trail. You can also find walks from the National Trust.

Escape the busy city life by exploring nature at one of Chelmsford’s country parks, such as Danbury Country Park or Marsh Farm Country Park in South Woodham Ferrers. Ideal for keen walkers or a family day out, just don’t forget your picnic. Explore Essexcontains information about these country parks as well as other country parks and places where you can go for a walk near Chelmsford.

Chelmsford also benefits from Hylands Estate with 574 acres of historic parkland, three local nature reserves, plus several other parks and green spaces. More information is available on Love Your Chelmsford.

You can also join like minded people and make new friends interested in walking by joining one of these local walking clubs and groups:

Chelmsford has over 30 miles of dedicated cycle routes and some great places to cycle to including Hylands Park, Writtle and Central Park. You can explore all the routes in Chelmsford, including some handy tips to keep safe, on the Essex Highways website

On the Sustrans website, you can explore the National Cycle Network,which includes traffic free routes. National Cycle Route 1 and 13 goes through Chelmsford.

Plan your commute into work or a fun family ride using the Cycling UK journey planner.

Bike maintenance us essential to ensure your bike runs better for longer. Get into the habit of checking your bike regularly by following the Sustrans 11 step M check. It's easy to follow and doesn't take long to complete.

You can also join like minded people and make new friends within the cycling community by joining one of these local cycling clubs:

If skate boarding, scooting or BMX riding is more your thing, check out the skate parks at Central Park Chelmsford, or Saltcoats Park and Compass Gardens in South Woodham Ferrers. There is also a BMX track in Baddow Hall Park in Great Baddow. Radical Bikes offers trails, BMX and dirt jumping in Highwood, west of Chelmsford. They also run the annual Radfest.

Feeling inspired? Here’s how to kick start your cycling commute.

With more people choosing buses, bikes, scooters or your own two feet over cars, Essex County Council’s Stop.Swap.Go! initiative has made it even easier to make that transition. They have maps for schools in Chelmsford with drop off points and cycle, walking or scooter routes right to the front gates. They have also partnered up with Safer Essex Roads Partnership to provide cycling and walking training courses.

Bikability for schools can provide courses within your school and have handy resource toolkit to help support the home-school engagement.

Park and Stride encourage parents to park their cars 10 minutes away from the school or get off the bus a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way to school, and create routes and share them with other parents and the school. The health benefits for parents and their children are huge.