We want to bring a brilliant new bike sharing scheme to Brunel University London, connecting our campus with the rest of Uxbridge – and we need your help!
"This is an opportunity for us to make real change, not just for our staff and students, but for our entire community. Together, let's get these bikes to Uxbridge!"
Pauldy, President, Union of Brunel Students
We’ve entered the Santander Cycles University Challenge competition to win £100,000 of capital investment in 50 bikes and eight docking stations at vital points in the local area, such as the hospital and the station. All we have to do is raise as much money as we can (at least £48,650) by 8th December so that we can make a success of the scheme. Oh, and we’re up against four other universities which have also got through to the finals of the competition…so, no pressure.
Well, it’s great for your health, for a start.
Brunel research, published in the Journal of Public Health, shows that people who use their bikes as transport are four time more likely to meet a recommended 150 minutes of physical activity a week than those who don’t cycle. It also means Londoners who cycle are up to six times fitter than bus, train and car commuters.
The bikes will be stationed around campus, and at Uxbridge Station and Hillingdon Hospital, so if you’re a student who’s fed up of packed buses or you’re simply keen to get out and about in our green and pleasant borough, #Brunelbikes is right up your street.
- Uxbridge High Street
- Hillingdon Hospital
- Brunel Campus
On campus they will be docked at:
- Isambard Halls of Residence (2 Stations)
- Bannerman Centre (2 stations)
- Eastern Gateway Building
- Brunel Sports Park
If we meet our stretch target we could add a docking station at West Drayton...
The bikes themselves will be pretty cool – red like the ones in Central London, with mudguards and lights. They even have a basket at the front if you want to relive that scene from ET.
With Santander covering the costs of the bikes, the docking stations and installation for the winning Universities, the funds raised to launch the scheme will be used as follows:
If Brunel wins we will enter into a contract with the scheme provider, nextbike. The docking stations and bikes will be installed by early Spring, and we will launch in March 2018!
You’ll be helping us do something really special for the local community, which will make you feel great.
But of course there’s more to it than that. If you’re a student or staff member and you pledge just £30 (the cost of annual membership once we launch) you will get your first year’s membership of the scheme and five months extra for free!
The more money you pledge the more likely it is that the scheme will go ahead. And don’t forget, if we don’t win the competition you get your money back.
But I’m leaving Brunel in September!
Fear not! We also have a six month membership reward available, so you can still support the scheme.
Not yet it doesn’t!! But rest assured, we want this scheme to be the start of something huge in West London. Once the scheme is up and running we'll be able to monitor how the bikes are being used, and speak to customers about additional places we could add. With a strong first year we will continue to reach out further into the community, such as adding West Drayton station.
Yes please, if you could. We really want this to happen, and we can’t do it without your help. So if you have any questions, any at all, please call Jess Strangward on 077 848 57 201
Brunel Bikes Team
[email protected]
