“I feel very good on the bike. Meeting people, people waving, people asking you about the bike. I feel very good going around on it.”
Cycle Connect rider

In Westminster, the Smile Machine is hard to miss.

Bikeworks’ side-by-side e-assist cycle carries residents through the borough for everyday journeys, appointments, errands, fresh air, conversation and time outside. Nicknamed after the look on people’s faces when they ride the cycle, the Smile Machine shows a different way of cycling on Westminster streets.

For people excluded from mainstream cycling, Cycle Connect makes cycling possible in a different way.

Cycle Connect is part of Bikeworks’ inclusive cycling offer. It uses a specialist, adapted side-by-side cycle, piloted by a trained Cycle Pilot, to make accessible cycling, movement and local journeys possible for disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, older residents and others who may not be able to ride independently.

Why Cycle Connect matters in Westminster

In Westminster, the need for equitable access to cycling is clear. Over 30% of residents aged 16 and over have one or more long-term health conditions, 25% of residents are inactive, and the borough has the highest male life expectancy gap in the country, with an 18-year gap between the richest and poorest areas.

Cycle Connect responds to that local need by making cycling, movement and everyday journeys possible for people who are often excluded from mainstream cycling, accessible active travel and public space.

What Cycle Connect makes possible

Cycle Connect in Westminster is delivered on the Smile Machine, a side-by-side e-assist cycle piloted by Erma, our trained Cycle Pilot.

The cycle can carry up to three passengers on each ride. Riders can pedal where they want to, rest when they need to, or simply enjoy the journey. Because each ride is led by Erma, passengers can experience cycling in a way that works for them.

Riders use Cycle Connect to reach appointments, run errands, travel to volunteering roles, get outside, move more, or spend time talking with Erma while travelling through Westminster.

The Smile Machine also changes what people see cycling as. A cycle does not have to mean one person riding alone on two wheels. It can be shared. It can be electric assisted. It can carry people, conversation, routine, fresh air and connection.

When the Smile Machine is out in Westminster, people stop, wave, ask questions and see a cycle built around access.

Accessible cycling and active travel in Westminster

Cycle Connect in Westminster is funded through Active Westminster, part of Westminster City Council.

Over the past year, the service supported 124 passengers across 394 rides. Of those passengers, 30% had a disability or long-term health condition.

This shows why accessible, supported cycling matters in a borough where many residents face barriers to mainstream cycling, physical activity and local travel.

Cycle Connect is not only about exercise. Riders use the service for practical journeys, social connection, fresh air and time outside. It gives people a way to move through the borough by cycle when standard cycling is not possible or not the right fit.

Meet Chris

Chris is one of our regular Cycle Connect riders. He has been riding with Erma for 15 months and uses the service as often as possible.

After being diagnosed with diabetes, Chris began using Cycle Connect as part of how he looks after his physical and mental health. The rides give him time outside, gentle movement and a way to travel through Westminster.

Cycle Connect also connects Chris to his local routine. He uses the service to travel to his volunteering role, go shopping and reach appointments. The routine has also given him the encouragement to join a local gym and build more activity into his week.

When we cycled with him in March, he told us:

“It’s really relaxing, it’s comfortable and it gets me out of the house as well. I find it very useful if you want to go somewhere, if that’s shopping or you need to go to an appointment or something like that, Cycle Connect can get you there. And obviously it’s free, so it’s useful for people who have low funding, low budget.”

 

Cycle Connect on Westminster streets

Chris describes Cycle Connect as relaxing, comfortable and useful. It gets him out of the house. It means he can go shopping, reach appointments, travel to his volunteering role and spend time moving through Westminster with Erma.

That is what the Smile Machine makes possible.

A cycle journey does not have to mean riding alone, owning a bike or being able to use a standard two-wheeled cycle. It can be shared. It can be electric assisted. It can encourage conversation, routine, fresh air and connection.

When the Smile Machine is out in Westminster, people notice. They wave, ask questions and see cycling working differently.

Cycle Connect makes everyday journeys possible for people who are too often excluded from cycling, active travel and public space.

Find out more

Cycle Connect is available to Westminster residents. To find out more, email cycle.connect@bikeworks.org.uk.

Bikeworks also works with local authorities, BIDs, event organisers and place-based partners to deliver Cycle Connect as an equitable active travel solution. If you are interested in commissioning Cycle Connect to improve access to local journeys, community events or public spaces, please contact info@bikeworks.org.uk.

David Dansky was a close friend and colleague to us at Bikeworks.

Many will consider David to be the godfather of our Cycle Connect activities. He recognised early what riding alongside someone could make possible. Not as an adaptation, but as a different way of understanding cycling. Shared experience. Shared conversation. Shared freedom. The presence of side-by-side cycles in fleets across the UK, including our own, reflects that belief.

He was also a defining voice in inclusive cycling and cycle training in the UK. As a founding member of Cycle Training UK (CTUK), he played a central role in shaping how cycle training developed nationally. His thinking influenced standards, instructors and organisations across the country. His contribution to the development of the Bikeability curriculum helped shape national practice. He also authored practical resources such as the Cycling Games Compendium, grounded in his belief that learning to ride should be engaging and rooted in real experience.

Jim first met David 20 years ago when we were setting up Bikeworks. Having been a teacher in a former life, David had a distinctive mentoring style. When you asked him a question, he often responded with one of his own. It was a powerful way of guiding people to think and take ownership of their decisions, a style we have all benefited from as peers, friends and colleagues.

David has left us with a powerful legacy. His influence can be seen directly in our work. He understood that the bicycle could be a tool for connection and freedom, particularly for people who had the most to benefit but might otherwise be excluded.

He was personable and able to connect with anyone. He carried intelligence lightly and had a great sense of humour.

 

The incredible response to David’s passing demonstrates how many within our community feel this loss deeply. Our thoughts are with his wife Clare, their family and friends.

We are proud to take forward the legacy created by David in the delivery of our community activities and development of our inclusive instructor and pilot training. At Bikeworks, our next chapter will continue to be shaped by his thinking.

We have just celebrated our birthday. From our beginnings as “Olympic Bikes” –  a grassroots idea born in the run-up to the 2012 Games – through to today, we’ve held one vision: to make cycling accessible to everyone. What started as a response to inequality in East London has grown into a social enterprise with impact across the capital, and beyond.

As we approach our 20th anniversary in 2026, we’re taking a moment to reflect. The journey has been full of collaboration, persistence, and belief in the power of cycles as a tool for good. One of the clearest examples of that vision in action is our Inclusive Cycling Hub, based at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

A Capital Investment That Built a Legacy

The Inclusive Cycling Hub stands as a testament to what’s possible when vision meets support. The London Marathon Foundation played a pivotal role in turning our idea into a physical, living hub.

Their investment wasn’t just about creating a building. It was about removing barriers to activity and inspiring participation for people of all ages and abilities, especially those who are too often excluded from cycling. The Hub provides access to specialist cycles, expert support, and a welcoming space –  disabled people, older adults, their families and carers experience the freedom and wellbeing that cycling brings.

Through their capital investment in the Hub, the Foundation created a lasting legacy in East London: a space that continues to be activated through programmes, inclusive cycle sales, and outreach. Built to endure beyond the initial investment, the Hub reflects the Foundation’s mission to improve lives through physical activity, inclusion, and accessible spaces.

 

In Their Words

We’re proud to share this journey with the London Marathon Foundation, whose vision and support helped make the Hub possible. Here’s how they describe the impact of their capital investment:

Hal Davidson, London Marathon Foundation’s Head of Impact, said:
“The Inclusive Cycling Hub is a fantastic facility that supports our vision to inspire activity for all. When you create new opportunities for people to be active, it can completely transform their lives – especially for communities who for too long have faced the biggest barriers to being active. With support from our Active Spaces Fund, Bikeworks has created a community-led space that’s already engaging thousands of people in inclusive cycling – allowing more people to experience the physical, mental, and social benefits that come from being active, today and for years to come.”

Recognition for Design With Social Purpose

Designed by Foster Kirk Architects, the Hub has gained recognition not only for what it enables, but also for how it was built. Awards and features include:

• RIBA Journal MacEwen Award 2024 (long-listed) – recognising architecture “for the common good.”
• Open House Festival 2023 – Design Partner (winner) – one of just five projects chosen that year for architectural merit and public/social value.
• Architects’ Journal Retrofit & Reuse Awards (shortlist) – under £500k category.

 

 

We partnered with Constructive & Co, East-London makers with experience delivering joinery across the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, including for Plexal at Here East. They produced robust, high-quality fitted elements for the Hub, built to support frequent movement of specialist cycles and the demands of an active adaptive-cycling environment. The finish reflects the ambition for a durable, quality and welcoming space that can stand up to daily programme delivery.

The result is a fit-out designed for heavy daily use and specialist equipment, without compromising quality.

 

Cycling in Action: The All Ability Club

Right outside the Velodrome, the Hub comes alive every week through our All Ability Club. Here, people who are disabled or have limited mobility, along with their friends, families and carers, can try from our fleet of specialist cycles in a safe, welcoming space.

It’s about more than learning to ride. It’s about joy, confidence, and connection. Week by week, we see people discover cycling for the first time, or return to it after many years, often saying they never thought it would be possible.

Participation has almost tripled in three years, demonstrating both rising demand and the impact of consistent, relationship-based delivery.

All Ability participation (Apr 2022 – Mar 2025):

8,100 → 16,400 → 22,400 experiences

2,300 → 4,000 → 5,600 participants

The growth is driven by people returning, bringing others, and becoming part of the community.

This shows the scale of demand and the life-changing impact inclusive cycling brings. With the Hub as a base, the All Ability Club isn’t just an activity – it’s a movement that breaks down barriers and makes cycling part of everyday life for thousands of Londoners.

This growth shows the scale of demand, and the life-changing impact inclusive cycling brings. With the Hub as a base, the All Ability Club isn’t just an activity – it’s a movement that breaks down barriers and makes cycling part of everyday life for thousands of Londoners.

The Hub Today: London’s First Inclusive Cycle Salesroom

Today, the Hub is home to London’s first specialist inclusive cycle salesroom – the only place in the capital where you can try and buy adaptive bikes. From trikes and handcycles to side-by-side tandems, cargo bikes and recumbents, we provide expert guidance on specialist cycles for disabled people, families and older riders.

What makes it different is the knowledge and lived expertise of our instructors and staff. They don’t just sell cycles; they help people find the right fit, gain confidence, and discover the freedom of cycling in ways they may have thought impossible.

For anyone searching for adaptive bikes in London or looking for inclusive cycles for sale, the Hub is a unique destination.

Why Visit?

The Hub sits at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, surrounded by world-class venues and new cultural landmarks. Visitors can:

• Combine a trip to Bikeworks with a walk through London’s most iconic park.
• Explore the East Bank district: V&A Storehouse, Sadler’s Wells, BBC Music studios and UCL East.
• See the Olympic legacy in action – not just in sports arenas, but in community spaces where inclusion and wellbeing come first.
• …and see how inclusive cycling sits at the heart of the Park’s legacy as a place for everyone.

With easy transport links and parking nearby, the Hub is a place to experience both cycling and the wider life of the Park.

 

Why Buy Social?

When you buy a cycle from Bikeworks, you’re not just purchasing from a shop – you’re supporting a social enterprise. Every sale helps us deliver programmes like the All Ability Club, giving thousands of disabled people, children with SEND, families and older adults the chance to enjoy inclusive cycling.

Choosing Bikeworks means your purchase directly funds social impact, keeping inclusive cycling accessible for the communities that need it most. In other words, when you buy a cycle from us, you buy social.

Reflecting Back, Looking Forward

As we reach this milestone, we’re proud of what Bikeworks has achieved, and excited for what comes next. The Inclusive Cycling Hub stands as proof of what can be built when funders like London Marathon Foundation back bold ideas rooted in community need.

As we look to 2026, our 20th anniversary year, we’re inviting partners, stakeholders, and visitors to Join Our Journey.

Together, we can keep breaking down barriers, creating access, and using cycles as a tool for good.

You can be part of it too:

• Test ride a specialist cycle at our weekly All Ability Club outside the Velodrome.
• Or book a visit to London’s first inclusive cycle salesroom to try, compare and buy – with specialist cycles and expert advice from our team.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy adaptive or specialist cycles in London?
At Bikeworks’ Inclusive Cycling Hub in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – London’s first inclusive cycle salesroom. We stock a wide range of adaptive bikes and specialist inclusive cycles from leading brands such as Van Raam, ICE Trikes, Hase, Pashley and more. You can try, compare and buy with guidance from our expert team.

Can I try a cycle before I buy?
Yes. At Bikeworks you can book a visit to our inclusive cycle salesroom for tailored advice and test rides, or join our weekly All Ability Club outside the Velodrome to try different adaptive bikes in London in a safe, supportive environment.

What types of cycles are available, and who are they for?
Our fleet includes trikes and e-trikes, handcycles, recumbents, side-by-side tandems, and cargo cycles. These cycles are designed for disabled people, disabled children, children with SEND, older adults, families, and carers, anyone looking for inclusive cycling opportunities or the chance to try adaptive bikes. Visitors travel from across London and all over England to find the right cycle for their needs.

Cycling is more than movement.

It’s freedom. It’s joy. It’s community.

For nearly 20 years, Bikeworks has been creating inclusive spaces where difference is visible – and valued.

Photographer Becky Mursell shares this same vision through her portrait series The Everyday Cyclist. Her portraits capture people and their cycles: from handcycles to two-wheelers, from commuters to leisure riders, celebrating the rich diversity of cycling in London.

Over three years, the project has grown into a remarkable archive of more than 115 cyclists, each with their own story. Among them are Erma, and soon Jamie — both part of the Bikeworks community. Their portraits reflect the spirit of inclusion that powers everything we do.

 

 

Capturing Difference

At Bikeworks, cycles aren’t just equipment – they’re freedom, confidence, and connection.

The Everyday Cyclist makes this visible. Each portrait shows the bond between rider and cycle, where difference is celebrated, pride shines through, and individuality takes centre stage.

• Erma, our Community Connector Cycle Pilot, uses the side-by-side cycle to reach people who are isolated, sparking joy and belonging through the simple act of riding together.

“I meet lots of people and make lots of friends. No two days are the same – whether it’s going for a joy ride, picking up shopping, or taking people to appointments. I really love doing this.”

 

• Jamie, our Inclusive Cycling Advisor and a regular rider at our All Ability Club, will soon feature in the series. Her portrait will capture her individuality and determination — qualities that shape how cycling is made accessible at Bikeworks.

“As someone who both advises on inclusion and rides at Bikeworks’ All Ability Clubs, I see every week how the right cycle can remove any unnecessary barriers. A cycle that feels safe and comfortable not only makes participation possible, but also enables riders to experience the joy and freedom of cycling.”

Together, their portraits and voices show what cycling becomes when joy is shared and community is built.

 

What’s Next for Becky

The ambition for 2026 is bold:

“I am determined to reach and inspire those who don’t cycle yet, as well as to use it as a tool to help position cycling as a powerful public health intervention.

My dream is to publicly launch with an exhibition in either Parliament or City Hall to coincide with UK Bike Week in June 2026. Followed by a year-long public art tour across London, installing the portraits in spaces like high streets, parks, hospitals, transport hubs, and shopping centres: reaching people where they live, shop, and travel.” — Becky Mursell

 

Why It Matters for Bikeworks

At Bikeworks, we’ve always believed in the power of the cycle as more than transport — it’s a catalyst for health, wellbeing, and community connection. Our programmes have shown that when everyone has access to a cycle, it can be a literal lifesaver — improving physical health, boosting mental wellbeing, and tackling deep-rooted health inequalities.

“Becky’s vision resonates with us because we’ve seen first-hand how something as humble as a cycle can change lives. Her portraits tell that story in a way that’s bold, beautiful, and impossible to ignore. By shining a light on difference, she’s helping to make visible what we’ve worked towards for nearly 20 years — that cycling belongs to everyone.” — Zoë Portlock, Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Bikeworks

Why It Matters

Cycling changes lives. It lifts moods, improves health, and creates community. When barriers are removed and the right cycles are available, people who might otherwise be left out discover independence, friendship, and confidence through riding.

The Everyday Cyclist celebrates this truth. By sharing the portraits of Erma, Jamie, and many others, Becky is showing that cycling is not just for the few – it’s for everyone.

 

See The Everyday Cyclist

•  Explore The Everyday Cyclist series →
•  Follow on Instagram →
•  Find two portraits in An Opinionated Guide to Cycle London (Hoxton Mini Press).

Meet Becky

Based in London, Becky Mursell is a freelance photographer with a passion for people and a love of bikes.

Her commercial work spans portraiture and events, helping organisations from businesses to schools and charities communicate who they are and what they do best.

Cycling became part of her life after moving to London, initially as a practical way to save money and boost mental health. What began as commuting grew into adventure, challenge, and community.

Highlights include placing in the top 2% of women in Ride London (2023 and 2024), completing ultra-distance challenges like the Norfolk 360 (400km) and Bryan Chapman (600km), and planning a ride in the Himalayas in Summer 2027.