Related
Recommended
Louise Moss

Cycling is one of the easiest ways to fit exercise into your daily routine because it’s a great way to travel around. Cycling also helps save money, get you fit, and is good for the environment (compared to traveling using automobiles!)

It's a low-impact type of exercise, so it's easier on your joints than running or other high-impact aerobic activities. But it still helps you get into shape – helps promote weight loss and building muscles. Studies have shown that that people who had a physically active lifestyle had a wellbeing score 32 per cent higher than inactive individuals – so being active is good for your mental health as well as physical health.


We have a wonderful route here at Rainham if you wanted to bring your own bike, or hire one of ours – we can show you maps and suggest different routes for people with different cycling abilities. There is a lovely 8.5km route from the centre along the river wall and back, or you can explore further and enjoy Sustrans Route 13 (which can take you all the way into London!) for example around the Ingrebourne Valley.

. . . . . .

We are proud to be working with ForwardMotion, the new initiative to encourage people to think differently about the way they travel around south Essex.
The goal is to reduce reliance on cars and get people to consider alternative travel options such as cycling, catching public transport or walking.

ForwardMotion is launching a new campaign on 5 September called This Is What A Cyclist Looks Like, which challenges people’s perceptions of what a ‘real’ cyclist looks like and aims to encourage more people to travel by bike around south Essex.

You don’t have to be really fit or wear Lycra to get on a bike, you can just be yourself. Whether you’re going to work, college or elsewhere, cycling is for everyone. That is why the campaign has collated photos and videos of a range of local cyclists, which will be on show across south Essex, as well as on ForwardMotion's website and social channels later in September.

Go to ForwardMotion's website to get ideas, advice and information about events, training and routes for new employees, jobseekers and students. 
. . . 
Two members of staff from CyclesUK have two of Rainham Marshes' bicycles on stands and are giving them a full service.
ForwardMotion have kindly arranged to give our wonderful fleet of cycles their annual service (we do regular services onsite - we have a wonderful volunteer who looks after the cycles throughout the year, but just like cars they need a bit of professional checking). CyclesUK came and looked after the bikes giving them some bicycle TLC!
You can hire our bikes from just £4 per bicycle for a half day (£5 for non-members) and explore the River Wall Section of the reserve 

and explore the surrounding landscape, taking in views over the river Thames and down to London from the river wall.

Rainham is ideally positioned for a cycle adventure, with easy access to Sustrans route 13 and further afield, exploring Beam Valley and The Gaynes Parkway. For more about the cycle hire scheme look here. 

And there's an added benefit if you hire a bicycle in September - you get 10% off entry to National Trust Rainham Hal! Check out all the details here.

RSPB volounteer Rob is cycling along the Rainham Marshes River Wall, in the background there is a view across a section of the reserve and in the distance the buildings of London.

. . . 

ForwardMotion is delivered by South Essex Active Travel, a collaboration between Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Councils. The initiative is funded by the Department for Transport.