Key worker Lauren gets on her bike thanks to charity

The Bike Station is the Capital’s leading bicycle social enterprise repairing unwanted bikes and putting them back on the city’s roads.

Since lockdown began the charity has been offering free bicycles as well as helmets, lights and locks to key workers to keep them safe while travelling to and from work.

Being able to pedal to work has allowed many essential workers to avoid public transport thereby reducing the risk of spreading Covid-19.

The bikes have also helped recipients with their mental and physical health, as the time spent commuting allows them a breath of fresh air and time to recover from their challenging work.

Lauren Durie works as a Social Educator at Harmeny Education Trust in Balerno where she works with children who have complex behavioural and social issues.

During the pandemic the 32-year-old trainee primary teacher has to travel six miles from her home in the city centre to get to work every day.

Before lockdown Lauren had never been on a bike but says it’s been a “real help” over the last few months.

As well as helping her get to and from work she has been able to stay active throughout lockdown while her local gym has been closed.

She said: “I did not cycle before. I used to run or workout at the gym. Now I prefer cycling.”

The grateful educator went on to say that having the bike has allowed her to spend quality time with her fiancé who is a keen cyclist.

She said: “My fiancé, Alejandro, unfortunately lost his job due to the pandemic which caused us stress.

“He is a keen cyclist so receiving the bike from The Bike Station allowed us to share quality time together outdoors and to keep fit, whilst taking our minds of Covid-19 for a bit.”

The project named Hero Bikes has already helped dozens of other key workers to commute safely to and from work. Lauren said that she is delighted to be able to start her teacher training course in September 2020 with a bike and said thanks to the charity for making her life during Covid-19 a little easier.

She said: “I want to thank The Bike Station for providing me with my bike that has enabled me to exercise, enjoy a new hobby and allows me to travel without using public transport.”

Chief executive of The Bike Station Sasha Taylor said the team has been “overwhelmed” by the response to the project but the charity is now struggling to keep up with the demand for bikes.

The Causewayside-based charity has now set up a fundraiser for the project and asks anyone who is able to donate.

Ms Taylor said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to our Hero Bikes scheme. However, we have received more applications for Hero Bikes than our small team can supply.

“The Bike Station relies on public donations, and many of the bikes donated have been transformed into Hero Bikes by our mechanics. We are excited to launch a Hero Bikes fundraiser to help us provide even more bikes to key workers in Edinburgh.”

For more information visit: https://thebikestation.org.uk/hero-bikes/