Long Stratton BikeActive Taxi Service (LSBATS)

Aim

The Long Stratton BikeActive Taxi service will offer a free rickshaw taxi service to disabled people in the town of Long Stratton, Norfolk

BikeActive Norfolk

BikeActive Norfolk is a disability cycling group. For the past four years, we have run an adult cycling group weekly at a number of venues across South Norfolk. Using our many specialist cycles to ensure we could get anyone who came to our sessions out cycling. We run weekly through Spring, summer and autumn, fortnightly through the winter months.

To achieve this,s we have a plethora of disability cycles, such as E assist wheelchair transporters, E assist side by side tandems, E assist Chat Rickshaw, E assist semi recumbent trikes, E assist tadpole trikes and rear steer tandem trikes, as well as E bikes, low step bikes and trikes.

Our group has given out over 750 rides to 120 different rider clients during the 100 plus sessions we have run. People with disabilities, injuries, and illnesses as diverse as diabetes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, knee and hip surgery, mental health problems,  limb amputation, stroke recovery, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, learning disability, autism and para cerebellum have attended our sessions, to name some of the issues people have to overcome. We are proud to say that we have always been able to give a ride experience to everyone. In 2025, we won the South Norfolk District Council's Community Award for "Healthy and Active" group and were runners up in the" Connecting Communities" category.

Liam, a regular user of our group, says," I love getting out in the country cycling with BikeActive Norfolk. I love the change of season,s but love the summer most. As well as going to the cafe afterwards." Another regular group attender says," BikeActive Norfolk helps me still enjoy the countryside despite my ongoing health issues. It makes me exercise in a fun way that I enjoy"   

BikeActive Norfolk Junior

Three years ago, in response to many requests, we set up a Junior group, BikeActive Norfolk Junior. Running on the traffic free multi use games area in Long Stratton, weekly during Norfolk School holidays, we used our many trikes, quadracycles, go-karts, wheelchair transporters, side by side tandem trikes and rear steer tandem trikes to give a cycling experience to disabled children. In the 25 times this group has run, we have given out 250 plus rides to 60 different children. Many from local SEN schools and respite centres.

We have many parents and carers who have given testimonials to our service. Parent L says," The group has given my daughter A the confidence and ability to ride a trike, she loves it!" Parent A says," Being able to have something to do with S in the holidays is wonderful. The fact that he absolutely loves it makes it a double win situation" 

Long Stratton BikeActive Taxi Service (LSBATS)

BikeActive Norfolk will launch its Long Stratton BikeActive Taxi Service in May 2026. Due to our town being bypassed, traffic conditions now allow for this project. This will allow elderly, disabled, ill or injured people to get a lift to and from the town from their homes, to shop, socialise, visit the GP, go to the pharmacist, visit the library, attend the church, the list is endless,  utilising our cycling equipment.

To cover all needs, we have three different cycles. An E assist Van Raam Chat Rickshaw, an E assist Van Raam Velo Plus wheelchair transporter and an E assist Van Raam Fun2go side by side tandem trike.

This ensures we can allow those who are wheelchair bound or require a carer to go out with them to use the service. The cost of the service will be a small donation, so it will allow those unable to afford the expense of a taxi the chance to get out into the community, to remain visible, get exercise whilst enjoying cycling, and to just enjoy being out in the fresh air.

We will be launching the group from the 1st of May 2026  and will run Monday to Friday with sessions available between 10 am and midday and midday and 2 pm. We already have a number of interested users asking about the group, and BikeActive Norfolk looks forward to delivering the service.

This project successfully funded on 18th April 2026