Hospital bike stands
Pix show official launch of bike stands at N&N – Paul Jones (left) Chief People Officer at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (in suit jacket and blue tie to left of pic) and Mark Wilson, ESE Direct Sales manager, in zip jacket with logo.

Cycling is on the up at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital as new bike stands donated.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is proving popular with cyclists following the installation of dozens of new Hospital bike stands.

One of the hospital’s business supplies companies, ESE Direct, which supplies shelves and patient-record storage, made a gift to the hospital of 10 cycle stands which were returned stock.

The stands proved such a hit that 24 more were ordered, funded by N&N Hospitals Charity.

“We were delighted when ESE Direct offered us 10 free cycle hoops,’ said project manager at the hospital’s facilities team, Dale Jackson.

With high demand for car parking at the hospital, and moves to encourage green travel and healthy commuting, cycling has been actively encouraged at the hospital and across the City.

However, the increasing number of bikes need to be parked safely – and this was proving a challenge for the hospital.

“The donation was timely as we needed more places to leave bikes since they were being locked to trees and lamp posts which is obviously not a good idea as they can block the footpaths. We were grateful that following this donation the N&N Hospitals Charity supported this scheme and provide funding for further hoops.’’

“We are encouraging more people to cycle to the hospital, which is cycling route designated by Norwich City Council and numbers are steadily increasing – especially in summer.

The 34 hoops that have now been installed near the East and West inpatients entrances and atriums and are already well used.

Norwich has seven colour-coded bike routes to encourage cyclists and the hospital is on the Pink Pedalway. The eight-mile route heads through UEA, then crosses the city centre to Heartsease and Broadland.

ESE Direct sales manager Mark Wilson said: “The hospital is a long-standing customer of ours and is keen on promoting cycling, so they were the obvious choice to donate these Sheffield Cycle Hoops to when they were going spare.

“The burgundy-painted bike stands had been sitting in our warehouse for months and so we decided to donate them to a good cause. The extra hoops the hospital ordered were colour matched with the same burgundy paint.

“The hospital has an initiative to encourage staff to cycle to work so we offered them to the facilities department and they were appreciative as it fitted with what they needed on the site.”

Paul Jones, Chief People Officer at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, officially opened the already well-used bike parking facility.

He said: ‘We’re keen to encourage cyclists and are delighted to have these new cycle parking hoops.’

Norfolk-based ESE Direct advises companies on products that can help make their workplace more cycle friendly, including cycle shelters, changing rooms and locker storage.

‘There are cycle storage products available that can suit every need, from a simple wall-mounted cycle rack to vertical hanging racks through to much larger, covered cycle shelters,’ says Mark Wilson.

Story by Liz Hollis – Visit my journalism website:www.lizhollis.co.uk

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Ten ways to make your workplace more cycle friendly…

Cycle parking 

  1. Provide easy-to-use and secure storage for cycles at the workplace. Ensure the parking is as convenient as possible – as near as possible to the entrance.
  2. Provide lockers or a storage area where workers can keep bulky gear, such as cycling helmets, during the day.
  3. Drying area. If it’s raining, cyclists will appreciate having somewhere to hang out their wet outdoor gear to dry while they are at work. It’s so much nicer to cycle home in dry clothes, rather than have to put wet gear back on again at the end of the day. Just a cupboard or a few hooks will do.
  4. Changing rooms. Serious cycling can be tough exercise, so if you’ve space cyclists will appreciate somewhere to shower and change into their work clothes. They’ll also be useful for commuters who run to work or go to the gym during their lunchbreak.
  5. Encourage a cycling culture. Cyclists will feel welcome if they know their employer is happy for them to arrive at meetings or in the morning by bike.
  6. Run workplace cycling challenges. This can involve teams or organisations competing to see who can encourage most people to cycle. Lots of cycling organisations run workplace biking challenges you can join up to.
  7. Launch a regular cycle-to-work day. Suggest that people cycle to work, once a week on a nominated day.
  8. Start a bike club. Make cycling sociable and fun by bringing together employees who are interested in cycling.
  9. Install a cycling noticeboard or send out a regular digital newsletter so that people can find out about national initiatives, cycle schemes or cycle-friendly events happening in your workplace.
  10. Explore financial incentives such as the Government’s Cycle to Work scheme which encourages workers to commute by bike.

advertising

OFFER! Your editorial published and promoted on iceniPost and our social networks for just £60!

If you pay regularly for adverts in printed papers and magazines please just a take moment to compare this offer with those you are paying for every month.

We are offering you a full editorial promoting your business or organisation on our web publication iceniPost.com published and promoted on social networks for just £60!

read more…