Local maps
Local initiatives
The 2016 Get On Your Bike! leaflet is available to view. Whether you are a beginner or more into sporty cycling, find out about local cycling groups you can ride with and how to get help to fix your bike or boost your confidence to cycle.
Colchester Bike Kitchen and Wivenhoe Bike Kitchen are DIY community bike workshops run by volunteers. In return for a small donation you can use their tools either on your own or under the supervision of their friendly mechanics. Watch the Wivenhoe and Essex Bike Kitchen’s film.
Cycle Colchester is a legacy of the Cycle Town 2008–2011 project, keeping the community up to date with what is happening locally to promote and support cycling. Sign up for our monthly newsletter; download local cycling maps showing Colchester's urban cycle routes, paths and quiet roads to help cyclists who want to avoid cycling on larger roads; and check the On Your Bike leaflet for details of local bike clubs and led rides. Cycle Colchester provides an established information service for cycling in the town, working in partnership with other bodies, including the police, to increase the ease with which people can cycle.
Colchester Cycling Campaign promotes utility cycling in and around Colchester and wants to make it easier for people of all ages to ride a bike to work, school, the shops or just to meet friends. We press our councils to provide better infrastructure and conditions for everyday cyclists, with funds coming from public expenditure and companies involved in new developments.
Re-cycle is the UK’s biggest and best-known bicycle recycling charity. It receives abandoned bikes reclaimed by councils and the police, as well as those donated by members of the public, and sends them to Africa where they provide transport for those who would otherwise spend significant time walking to reach essential services and resources. Re~Cycle also refurbs the strong and trusty delivery bicycles that were once a mainstay of the Royal Mail’s postal delivery fleet.
Essex University encourages cycling to its Colchester Campus. Find out more about the changing facilities, parking, fixing stations etc here. The charity Re-Cycle visits the University of Essex Colchester Campus every Wednesday morning in term time. As well as free checks they provide servicing, repairs and affordable second-hand bikes.
Uni Bike Rides. Organised by Colchester Travel Plan Club to point out useful information for students cycling in the UK for the first time, and cycling tips to build confidence and help students cycle more safely.
Colchester Cycle Campaign. offers a great site about utility cycling in and around Colchester, Essex, UK. They also offer great information on buying a bike, bike hire in the town, rides, clubs, bike basics and learning to ride!
Colchester Cycle Campaign offers a great site about utility cycling in and around Colchester, Essex, UK. They also offer great information on buying a bike, bike hire in the town, rides, clubs, bike basics and learning to ride! Colchester Travel Plan Club promotes active and sustainable travel to work and on business. Providing experience and expertise in creating positive travel behaviour change and an ever expanding range of resources you can use to develop initiatives and promotions
The Big Bike Revival has been running for four years to inspire the 42% of people who own bikes, but who don’t cycle, to start riding. With events across England and Scotland, people attending benefit from free cycle checks, servicing, cycle maintenance workshops, cycle training and accompanied rides. Find an event
plusbike powered by National Rail provides information on what bike facilities are available at stations across Essex and beyond
Bike Events makes cycling enjoyable for everyone - we've been running rides for over 20 years and are the UK's biggest organiser of fundraising and recreational cycle rides.
Big Pedal is the UK's largest inter-school cycling and scooting challenge. It inspires pupils, staff and parents to choose two wheels for their journey to school. Each year Essex schools compete nationally for prizes and awards. See if your school participates or how you could enter.
The Cake Escape. The cake escape is encouraging Essex residents and visitors alike to grab their bikes and cycle through some of the most beautiful places in Essex. The cake escape combines a little exercise with exploration of the countryside and the best of local café culture.
Safer Essex Roads Partnership. 75 training places of adult cycle training and maintenance, delivered via a workplace road safety programme. Email saferessexroads@essexhighways.org for more information or visit our Safer Essex Roads Partnership Cycling pages
Sustrans. The recruitment and coordination of volunteers, to work on route upkeep and led rides. You can volunteer to help support Sustrans in Essex.
En-form Clean Air Heroes. Promotion of active travel to and from school, with schools setting themselves targets to aspire to. Awarded bronze, silver or gold according to active travel levels, with prizes awarded to local good causes