Dr Bike

Dr BIKe 2020

Dr Bike got off to a promising start in March, with a really busy session outside Seaford Police Station. Little did we know what was waiting around the corner.

By June it looked like the pandemic was calming down and some sort of normality would return with a relaxing be happy for us to also work alongside her at the Salts.

of restrictions and the ‘Rule of Six’. Four keen members up and running from this prestigious site. Dr Bike would

of the Dr Bike team met at the Big Park Peacehaven with a view to seeing if Dr Bike could safely restart. A COVID-19 secure working system was devised and a specific risk assessment produced. Safety for the team was enhanced by the purchase of equipment to mark off the area for the team to work in, and enhanced ‘front of house’ teams did the meet and greet and disinfected the bikes before and after the work had been carried out.

On 18th July we were blessed with great weather and restarted back at the Big Park Peacehaven, with priority given to key workers. This was a great success. We had a number of bikes donated. Once given safety

Seaford Police Station was too compact to be made COVID-19 secure, so a new site was needed. After having a conversation with Nicola who runs Pappacinos at the Big Park, and the news that she and her team Thanks to her help and several emails to Seaford Town Council we were up and running at the Salts.

We also had a conversation with Cllr Lesley Boniface with regards to finding a suitable site in Newhaven, so we could introduce a 3rd Dr Bike to the Calendar. The positive attitude from Cllr Boniface was amazing and she put us in contact with Cllr Ken Dry, who gave Dr Bike a number of possible sites to operate from. After we attended a meeting with Cllr Ken Dry and the Management team at Tates Paradise Park, Dr Bike is now like thank Vanessa and her team at Paradise Park for their incredible support.

were taking on the Salts café, we asked would she also checks and any repairs needed completed, these were sold by club members, with the proceeds going to the Club’s Charity, Seaford Downs Syndrome and Special Needs Support Group.

Even with eight sessions cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, the Dr Bike team have checked over 120 bikes, carried out simple maintenance and repairs to get them out of sheds or garages and back in use, and raised £1,000 for our chosen charity.

So from the doom and gloom at the end of March, we at Dr Bike have had many positive comments from the public after keeping them cycling. All of the team have thoroughly enjoyed their mornings at the Dr Bike sessions, showing once again a lot of fun can be had helping others get back into cycling.

Stay safe everyone and Dr Bike will hopefully be back as soon as we are permitted.

january ISSue deadLIne: frIday 4th deceMber

Dr Bike is run by a team of volunteers from Cycle Seahaven, your local cycling club. To get further information about the club and Dr Bike go to www. cycleseahaven.org.uk.