Broadacres staff get on their bikes

Published by Neil Shaefer for Broadacres in Housing and also in Health

Staff at a North Yorkshire housing association are doing their bit to reduce their carbon footprint as well as getting extra exercise by using bikes to get around – including an innovative electric cycle.

Broadacres Housing Association, which has its head office in Northallerton, joined forces with the town’s Cowley’s Cycles to offer their team the chance to be environmentally friendly while they’re at work.

It was part of the Association’s ‘Green Month’, which  ran throughout October and was aimed at encouraging all staff to think about their carbon footprint when they are at work.

Cowley’s provided two bikes, one hybrid and one electric and staff were encouraged to use them instead of a car on shorter journeys during the working day, to attend meetings and even to go for lunch in town or visit nearby properties. As well as being better for the environment it also provide benefits for the employees’ health, well-being and general fitness.

The initiative may become a long term option for staff. The team is being asked for feedback after a week of using the alternative transport and if the feedback is positive, Broadacres will look to purchase bikes for use on a permanent basis.

Broadacres Housing Officer Laura Waddington said: “The bikes are great and have been really useful. Because we are regularly making short journeys around the town for meetings or to visit some of the Broadacres properties or our customers, these are great and are really practical too.

“This is far kinder to the environment and taking a bike means there’s no problem parking. The electric bike has been really popular as it’s lots of fun to ride – there were a lot of people vying for that one!”

Steve Cowley of Cowley’s Cycles, on Zetland Street, said: “We’re glad to be able to help Broadacres and for their staff to get a chance to be environmentally friendly while they work. The electric bikes obviously reduce the carbon footprint and are popular with people who want to keep active and keep cycling, but who need a little more help as well as those who want to do their bit to be green.”