05/10/2022 - RAF Henlow donate bikes to Council cycling scheme

Once refurbished, the bikes will be donated to members of the community from Luton and Central Bedfordshire who cannot afford a bike, or made available to purchase as part of both council’s 2040 vision to reduce air pollution and improve air quality by encouraging sustainable travel, reducing car use in the town.

Cllr Tom Shaw portfolio holder responsible for Climate Change at Luton Council said, “We’re really pleased to have been given these bikes, which will be added to those currently being repaired and distributed to those who need them. We were also fortunate enough to have a donation of seven bikes from Dorvics for Cycles in Leighton Buzzard at around the same time, and Dorvics also supply us with some of the bicycle components we can’t get from our main suppliers, helping us to get these bikes back on the road.

"We’re very proud of our cycling scheme, which is very popular. We currently have a waiting list of people in need of medium and larger size bikes. One of the main sources of pollution is road transport and switching to cycling is one way to help reduce that air pollution. This is a great way to encourage cycling.”

Councillor Steven Dixon, Member for Sustainability at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: " We would like to thank RAF Henlow for their kind donation to our fantastic joint-authority recycling scheme, which gives bikes to those who may be unable to afford one. We are always looking at different ways that we can reduce waste and encouraging residents to re-use and recycle their unwanted bicycles is a great way to achieve this. 

“Cycling is good for our health and wellbeing, as well as supporting the environment and being great fun. However, as bikes age or people outgrow them, they end up in sheds, garages or back gardens. All donated bikes have helped to transform lives; some have helped the long-term unemployed get back into work, NHS staff to visit patients in the community and others have provided a source of transport and independence for children in care.”

Wg Cdr Chris Brooke, Station Commander RAF Henlow said, “As a station, we are keen to support local projects that benefit the community and are delighted that these bikes will be used to support people who really need them. As an organisation, the Royal Air Force is committed to delivering Net Zero Air Power by 2040 and initiatives such as this afford us the opportunity to assist those communities we are part of to join us on that journey.”

If you have an old bike you no longer need that can be refurbished, you can take it to Unit 42 in the Kingsway Depot, between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday, or Luton residents can take them to their local tidy tip for collection.

Any proceeds from sales of refurbished bikes are reinvested into the scheme.

if you wish to find out more about the bikes available, please email [email protected]