Theo joined the Little Wormwood Scrubs All Ability Club with Full of Life, a local community centre, for his first ride on the new Veloplus.

The Veloplus

The Veloplus is a specialist platform cycle for wheelchair users. It allows people to ride without transferring out of their chair, making it one of the most important cycles in an inclusive fleet. Across Bikeworks All Ability Clubs, Veloplus cycles are among the most popular because they open up riding to people who may not be able to use a standard or adapted cycle.

At Little Wormwood Scrubs, the new Veloplus now becomes part of regular weekly provision.

“Our All Ability Clubs respond to the people who attend each week. The team know which specialist cycles are most needed locally and what equipment will widen access. Having a Veloplus permanently based at Little Wormwood Scrubs means more people can now ride as part of the weekly club.”

Jamie Lawson, Inclusive Cycling Advisor at Bikeworks

Full of Life

Full of Life has been part of the Little Wormwood Scrubs All Ability community, bringing local residents to ride, spend time outdoors and participate in a regular club offer. The new Veloplus strengthens what the club can provide for wheelchair users, families and local groups who come to the sessions.

The cycle has been made possible through local partnership between the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London Cycling Campaign and Lime’s Share The Joy Fund, with continued support from local stakeholders.

Little Wormwood Scrubs All Ability Club

Little Wormwood Scrubs All Ability Club is a regular community space where disabled people, families and local groups can access inclusive cycling using specialist cycles, adapted cycles and support from Bikeworks instructors.

This is what place-based inclusive cycling looks like in practice: local partners, a regular club, the right specialist cycle, and a community asset which can be used week after week.

For Theo, it started with a first ride on the Veloplus.

For the club, it means more people can now ride using the right specialist cycle at Little Wormwood Scrubs.

“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.

Counting Women: What This Moment Reveals

Zoe Portlock, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Bikeworks

Looking Back as We Approach Twenty Years

As Bikeworks approaches its twentieth year, Jim and I have been reflecting on the values that have shaped us since the beginning: inclusion, accessibility, community and respect for identity. These are not abstract concepts or strategic aspirations. They are the foundations that have guided every decision we have made as co-founders, partners and leaders in building an inclusive cycling organisation across two decades of change.

Bikeworks has never focused on individual achievement. We are a purpose with a business, and any impact we have created belongs to the people who participate in it, deliver it and shape it alongside us. Our work is, and has always been, collective.

As we approach our twentieth birthday year, I was delighted to be named in Cycling UK’s Top 100 Women in Cycling 2025 list within the Industry Mogul category. The timing of this recognition arrives in a year where a debate on inclusion has taken centre stage in our sector. To be recognised on a list at the very moment when questions of who we include are being debated so openly in our sector feels significant, and it makes this the moment to speak from the values we hold at Bikeworks and from my role in this sector.

It raises a much larger question about what, and who, is being recognised in our sector right now.

Why This Matters to Me

Part of my perspective comes from the people in my life. I have a community of loved ones who identify as women and are not biologically female, and loved ones who identify as men and are not biologically male. Being close to people whose identities are questioned or misunderstood has shaped how I think about inclusion, belonging and recognition. It has taught me that identity is lived, not theoretical.

So when Cycling UK narrows who it recognises as a woman, it affects people who matter deeply to me and to our community. It sits in tension with the values that guide us as leaders, and with the purpose that has shaped Bikeworks from the beginning: creating spaces where people are seen and respected for who they know themselves to be.

What the Awards Are Meant to Celebrate

The 100 Women in Cycling initiative exists to celebrate the breadth of women contributing to the cycling world: community champions, innovators, influencers, industry leaders and the many people whose everyday actions encourage more people to ride. At its best, it widens representation and highlights the different experiences and forms of leadership that shape our sector.

That purpose sits in direct conflict with this year’s eligibility criteria.

By limiting nominations to biological women only, a celebration designed to broaden representation now actively excludes women who belong in this space. Instead of honouring the full diversity of women in cycling, it redraws the boundaries of who is allowed to count. It is a contradiction too significant to overlook.

How Values Show Up in Decisions

Cycling UK has framed this decision as a matter of legal interpretation. But nothing about a celebratory list requires excluding women who do not fit a biological definition. This was a choice, and choices show where an organisation places its values and ultimately shape the kind of sector we become.

This reveals a wider issue: the point where organisational risk management overtakes purpose. For those making decisions, this is the moment when caution overtakes courage, policy overtakes people and being legally safe comes at the expense of being meaningfully inclusive.

At Bikeworks, our values shape our culture, and our culture shapes our decisions, not the other way around.

Why This Moment Feels Bigger Than One Decision

This decision does not sit in isolation. We are living in a time where definitions of belonging are tightening politically, socially and economically. People who should be at the centre of decisions are often absent from the rooms where those decisions are made. The gap between policy and humanity continues to widen.

This moment raises important questions.
Who gets to decide who counts?
Who was in the room and had a seat at the table?
Whose voices shaped the criteria?
Whose identities were included?
Whose were left out?

These questions matter because inclusion is not a legal position. It is a cultural one, a moral one and a leadership one.

What Twenty Years Has Taught Us

For nearly two decades, Bikeworks has worked to widen the lens. To recognise people for who they know themselves to be. To build spaces of belonging. To challenge the narrow definitions that limit participation.

We have always widened the lens, not narrowed it.
We have always built belonging, not boundaries.
We have always understood inclusion as a practice, not a box to be ticked or a risk to be managed.

As we enter our twentieth year, that commitment remains unwavering.

An Invitation to Reflect and Reconsider

This is not a post to celebrate a place on a list. It is a moment to say something important.

If our sector wants to champion women in cycling — all women — then decisions like this need to be reconsidered. We can do better than this, and moments like these are opportunities to realign with the values we say we hold.

We can widen the lens.
And I am asking Cycling UK to do exactly that.

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.

 

The start of our journey together began with a simple question: can cycling bring people together who feel isolated or excluded? Working alongside Westminster City Council through a Department for Transport Tackling Loneliness with Transport pilot, we found the answer in motion—riding side by side, sharing stories, and feeling part of something bigger.

By listening to residents, we learned that the joy of cycling is about more than the bike. It’s about being alongside others, chatting while you move, and removing practical barriers—cost, storage, confidence—so people who never thought cycling was for them can experience freedom, companionship, and connection.

How Cycle Connect makes a difference

• Shaped by lived experience. Residents told us what they needed; together we built a service that works for them.
• Ride together. Up to three people can ride with one of our trained Cycle Pilots—sharing the journey, conversation, and the simple joy of being side by side.
• Freedom to choose. Pedal, ride as a passenger, or add e-assist support—your ride, your way.
• Friendly guidance. Pilots offer route advice, local tips, and encouragement throughout.
• Connection at the heart. Every ride is about belonging and shared moments in motion.

“I never thought I’d cycle again after my stroke, but riding on Cycle Connect has given me back a sense of freedom. It’s not just the movement, it’s the laughter and company that make it so special.” – Westminster resident

Celebrating impact

Last year, Erma Ryan and Zoe Portlock had the privilege of attending the Active Westminster Awards, where Bikeworks won the Inclusive Award for Cycle Connect. This recognition celebrates how inclusive cycling can deepen connection and enrich everyday life across the borough.

Here’s Harry, one of our passionate Cycle Pilots, on why the rides matter and the difference they make for residents:

“Cycle Connect builds community engagement;  it gets people out and about, in the fresh air, and able to do things that they might not normally be able to do. They can go to appointments, meet new people and do some exercise. It helps them live their lives.”

A place-based, inclusive cycling offer

Cycle Connect is part of a wider network of activities available for Westminster residents:

• All Ability Club – Regent’s Park: every Wednesday – bookable spaces
• All Ability Club – Little Wormwood Scrubs: every Friday and alternate Saturdays – turn up and ride
• Family SEND cycling – Ashburnham School: inclusive sessions for children and young people with SEND for the whole-family support

Ride with us, partner with us

Cycle Connect shows what’s possible when we work together: we reach people who’ve been overlooked, create meaningful connections, and unlock the freedom of cycling for all.

 Residents: Book a Cycle Connect ride or join an All Ability Club – more info on our website HERE.
 Community groups & services: Partner with us to extend our reach and deepen impact – Join Our Journey – more info HERE.

 Get in touch: enquiries@bikeworks.org.uk

Together with Westminster, we’re proving that cycling isn’t just transport — it’s movement, connection, and belonging.

By Jamie Lawson, Inclusive Cycling Advisor at Bikeworks

When people think about cycling, they often picture two wheels, balance, and speed. But cycling can take many different forms, and with the right equipment, it becomes an activity that everyone can enjoy. That’s why having a fleet inclusive of cycles is essential, not only for All Ability Clubs, but also for schools, local authorities, care homes, and community groups that want to make cycling accessible to everyone.

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.

 

With the right cycles, no one is left out.

Recently, one of our clubs added two new cycles to the fleet: the Fun2Go and the EasyRider. These bikes have already transformed the way people ride together. The Fun2Go is a side-by-side tandem, so two riders can pedal and chat at the same time — perfect for friends, carers, or anyone who feels more confident with riding with company. The EasyRider, with its low step-through frame and supportive seat, makes cycling accessible for people who may struggle with balance or joint pain.

“Investing in the Fun2Go and EasyRider cycles from Bikeworks has been one of the best decisions for our community. As specialists in inclusive cycling, Bikeworks helped us choose the right bikes to meet local needs. These cycles have opened up riding to people of all ages and abilities, and we’re already seeing the benefits — more people taking part, more confidence, and more families enjoying cycling together.”

 

I’ve seen first-hand the joy these cycles bring.

Riders who hadn’t been on a bike in years are rediscovering the freedom of movement. Families are cycling together in ways they never thought possible. One person told me that the Fun2Go made them feel like they were “part of the action again,” after years of watching from the sidelines.

For me personally, my favourite cycle is the Fun2Go. There’s something special about being able to share the ride side by side. It turns cycling into a social activity — laughter, conversation, and exercise all rolled into one.

Getting the fleet right isn’t just about variety. It’s about equity.

It ensures that no matter your age, ability, or confidence level, there’s a cycle that can work for you. That’s what makes inclusive cycling so powerful. It’s not just about bikes — it’s about freedom, wellbeing, and connection.

If you’re curious, visit us at our Inclusive Cycle Sales Showroom opposite the Velo in the Olympic Park, or come along to one of our All Ability Clubs. We can help you find the right fleet for your school, local authority, care home, or community group.