▪ Staff bid to cut congestion, go green and get fit
▪ Event run in tandem with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s Active Travel Hinckley project
Jam-busting employees at National Grid’s Hinckley offices took to their bikes last week to ‘pedal’ the green transport message.
The energy network company encouraged staff to leave the car at home and walk, run or cycle to work in a bid to help cut congestion in the town, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep fit. The ‘Bike to Work’ day, on Wednesday (20 January), was run in tandem with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s Active Travel Hinckley project.
Those who chose pedal power over horse power for their daily commute were rewarded with a free breakfast, free bike maintenance – courtesy of Halfords, and the chance to whip up their own morning tonic on the Smoothie Bike. Staff also got the chance to freshen up in a brand new shower block – part of a package of measures National Grid has introduced to make it easier to cycle, run or walk to work.
Chris Train, National Grid’s Director of Gas Distribution, and a keen cyclist, said: “Cycling, running and walking are great alternatives to the car. Not only do they reduce congestion and cut greenhouse gas emissions but they help to keep people fit and well.
“As a company we strive to be a good neighbour to the communities in which we operate. We recognise the increasing pressures on the local road network so we have worked closely with Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and we have invested heavily in new facilities to make it easier for our staff take healthier, greener ways to work.”
Active Travel Development Coordinator Liz Causon, said “We are delighted to have been involved in National Grid’s Bike to work event and celebrating the launch of the new Shower Unit. We hope that this unit, along with the other active travel measure that National Grid have put in place, will overcome some of the barriers that employees currently experience and increase the number of active commutes to the workplace.”
Councillor Russ Roberts, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s Executive Member responsible for Culture and Leisure, added: “We look forward to continuing our work with National Grid to provide them with opportunities and initiatives that encourage walking, running and/or cycling to work”
As well as new shower facilities and cycle racks, National Grid has installed additional access-controlled pedestrian gates around the site, cutting walking distances to work.
The company’s green transport efforts are set for a further boost later this year. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council are set to extend the cycle way along Coventry Road, running past National Grid’s Brick Kiln Street entry to the site.