Handlebars (now fettle) launches 'donate-a-bike' crowdfunding campaign for NHS key workers
Fettle | Wednesday 8th April 2020 11:47am

As fewer buses and trains are running, and the prospect of using public transport remains daunting, the bike has become an essential mode of transportation for many people who still have to travel to work during the COVID-19 outbreak.
As we all try to do our bit to support the amazing people working so hard to keep us safe, over the last few weeks Handlebars has been delighted to offer free bike collection and repair services for all NHS staff.
But as well as requests to fix bikes, we’ve also been inundated with requests from key workers for loan bikes. We’ve done our best so far, lending the Brompton loan bikes we have in store to workers who would otherwise have to risk the tube or walk miles.
But we want to do more. That’s why we’re launching our ‘Donate-A-Bike’ campaign to get more key workers cycling safely.
Here's how you can get involved:
1. Donate a bike
If you’ve got a bike that you’re not using, then why not donate it? We’ll fix it up and get it to an NHS hero who can use it to travel safely (please send pictures of the bike to hello@handlebars.io)
2. Donate money for parts
We want to make sure that the bikes we donate are safe and fit for heroes. That’s why we’re asking for cash donations to help cover the cost of any parts that need to be replaced (we will be replacing these at cost so Handlebars will make 0% profit) - visit our fundraising page here.
3. Nominate an NHS hero
Get in touch if you know an NHS key worker who would benefit from a free bike - we’d love to hear from you (nomination are open to NHS frontline staff who live in London Zone 1 - 4) - use the hashtag #bikesforheroes
We’d love to raise enough to deliver 10 fully serviced bikes (approx £500). So why not donate what you can today and help us keep more key workers safe and cycling.
Visit our JustGiving page by clicking on the link: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bikesforheroes
Any facts, figures and prices shown in our blog articles are correct at time of publication.
Featured Articles
The 10-Minute Check That Could Save Your Commute
Tuesday 24th February 2026
Most bike problems don’t happen suddenly. They build up quietly — until one morning your gears won’t shift, your tyre’s flat, or your brakes feel wrong halfway through traffic. The good news? A simple 10-minute check once a week can prevent most of it. If your bike is part of your daily routine, a quick once-over is the difference between riding confidently and walking home pushing it. Here’s what to look at.
How E-Bikes Are Making Cycling More Inclusive For Everyone
Tuesday 20th January 2026
Cycling used to come with assumptions. You had to be fit enough. Fast enough. Confident enough. Live close enough. For a long time, that quietly excluded a lot of people. E-bikes have changed that. Not by replacing traditional cycling, but by widening the door. They’ve made cycling more practical, more forgiving, and more realistic for everyday life — and that’s why they’re becoming such a permanent part of urban transport.


