Post by Active Essex

Bike Week is always a great reminder of the power of cycling, but across Greater Essex, it represents something bigger. It highlights what’s possible when active travel becomes part of everyday life, not an add on. Over the past year, Active Essex has been accelerating its Better Connected and Accessible Spaces work, helping communities move more, feel more connected, and access greater opportunity. When places are designed for movement, people thrive, and we’re seeing that in action. Here are some of the initiatives driving change: • Essex Cycle Grant - opening up cycling to new audiences and breaking down barriers. • Essex Pedal Power - providing free bikes in disadvantaged communities, improving access to jobs, education and essential services. • Love to Ride - engaging hundreds of residents and building momentum for workplace participation. • Scoot Safe and school programmes - embedding active habits early and shaping safer routes for young people. This isn’t just about cycling. It’s about tackling inequalities, improving health, supporting environmental goals, and designing neighbourhoods where people feel they belong. Targeted investment is helping fuel this progress, and crucially, communities are leading the way. Local voices, local insight, and local partnerships are shaping decisions that genuinely reflect how people want to move around their neighbourhoods. Of course, challenges remain: workplace engagement is still low, infrastructure takes time, and long held travel habits don’t shift overnight. But being honest about these realities strengthens the work, because meaningful system change is never linear. Bike Week reminds us of what’s possible: • Active travel reduces inequalities • Infrastructure shapes healthier behaviours • Community led design creates places people love • Investment pays dividends across health, economy and environment Greater Essex is building a future where active travel isn’t an add on, it’s a foundation. And the momentum is only growing. #ActiveTravel #BikeWeek2026 #ConnectedSpaces #ActiveEnvironments