Thirty key workers at Bedfordshire hospitals could soon be travelling to work on free bicycles – all thanks for a new partnership between Govia Thameslink Railway and Luton Borough Council.

The two organisations are each donating the 15 bikes in the best condition from their stocks of abandoned bikes.

The “Bikes for Bedfordshire Heroes” project is one of a series of activities being run by Govia Thameslink to support staff and local communities during the Coronavirus pandemic.

GTR’s Letchworth distribution centre delivered the 15 machines to Luton’s bike recycling team this week.

GTR has a stream of bikes abandoned at stations, and those that are in too good a condition to scrap are normally sold for local charities at auction, but the lockdown means these have been cancelled.

Employees at Bedfordshire hospitals who are interested in obtaining a bike should contact the Luton Bike Recycling Scheme via [email protected].

What did the officials say?

Cllr Paul Castleman, Luton Council’s portfolio holder responsible for transport, said:

“We all greatly appreciate the invaluable work the NHS staff are doing at this particularly difficult time and hope this project will benefit them as they travel to work and back.

“We are happy to be working with GTR to deliver this recycling scheme and our sustainable travel team will ensure the bikes are fully refurbished and roadworthy for hospital staff to use.”

Tom Moran, Managing Director for Thameslink and Great Northern, said:

“We’re delighted to be working with Luton Council to support Bedfordshire hospital staff at this challenging time. As key workers ourselves, we’re proud to be supporting all the heroes who still need to travel to get to work.

“Much thanks are due to the Council for getting all the bikes in good working order, and to Bedford Borough Council for helping with deliveries. I’d also like to thank the Bedford-St Albans Community Rail Partnership for their help in setting up this cooperative project.”

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