Wheels to Work West
Wheels to Work West helps people overcome barriers to travelling to work, training and skills opportunities.
For people seeking work and skills across the West of England region, we can provide:
- Free bus tickets
- Discounted bikes
- Free loan bikes (hybrid, folding and electric)
- Free bicycle maintenance workshops
- Free adult cycle training and accompanied rides
- Journey and route planning
- Free bike servicing
To access the offers you must be:
- 16 or over
- Seeking work (or a change in employment if earning under the living wage)
- In need of help to travel to a work or skills opportunity such as travel to interviews, open days, jobs fairs, courses (e.g. English lessons), training, work placements, apprenticeships, volunteering or the first month of a new job
- Live in Bristol and North Somerset.
- Be able to complete an anonymous survey 3 months after the start date of any W2WW support
Offers vary per area
Wheels to Work offers are available in Bristol City and North Somerset.
However, offers may vary in each area, choose the area you live in below to see what offers are available to you.
| Bristol City | North Somerset | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus tickets | Available, find out more about bus taster tickets. | Available, find out more about bus taster tickets. |
| Discounted bikes sales | Available, find out more about discounted bikes sales. | Not available. |
| Loan bikes | Available, find out more about loan bikes. | Not available. |
| Free bike service | Available, find out more about free bike services. | Not available. |
| Bike maintenance workshops | Available, find out more about bike maintenance workshops. | Not available. |
| Adult cycle training & accompanied rides | Available, find out more about adult cycle training. | Not available. |
| Journey planning | Available, find out more about journey planning assistance. | Not available. |
Jump to:
Bus tickets
Where are bus tickets available?
Bus tickets are available for both Bristol and North Somerset. These may be paper tickets (Bristol only) or digital M Tickets. They are distributed directly (see our applications page) and through a network of local partners. Ask your Work Coach or support organisation about Wheels to Work.
Day Tickets – to get to interviews
North Somerset: If you are offered an interview for employment, a place on a course of study or a work placement or voluntary role, you may be eligible for a day ticket (up to a maximum of five per candidate) to access those interviews.
Monthly Tickets – to get to a new job
North Somerset: If you have a formal offer of employment (paid, work placement or voluntary role) or a place on a course at an approved educational establishment you may be eligible for a single monthly bus ticket (or up to 20 individual tickets) to cover the first month’s travel costs.
12 day ticket:
Bristol only: 12 days of travel in the form of an mTicket, paper tickets, or multi-operator voucher.
How do I apply for free bus tickets?
All bus tickets are issued based on the assessment of eligibility from our partner organisations.
What tickets are available?
| Bristol | North Somerset |
|---|---|
| M-tickets (Bristol and West of England), bus tickets (Bristol) | M-tickets (Weston-super-Mare and West of England) |
- What zones do the M-tickets cover?
- Find out more about the multi-operator rider tickets and their zones
Frequently Asked Questions
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Please see the operator’s website for frequently asked questions.
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Yes you can, once you’ve downloaded the App you can top up your ticket account whenever you wish to.
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Travelwest has a journey planner, which will take you through your journey door to door: Journey Planner
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You can only bring folding bikes on the buses. There may be cycle parking facilities near where you catch the bus if you want to cycle to the bus stop.
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First bus M-tickets: M-tickets are valid for all First services including metrobus routes.
Paper vouchers: Yes, these are now accepted on metrobus services.
Discounted bikes sales
Where are discounted bike sales available?
Discounted bike sales are available in Bristol.
What is a discounted bike sale?
In Bristol, eligible candidates can purchase a bicycle at a discount through our partner organisations.
Eligibility criteria
If you meet the following criteria, you will be eligible:
- Seeking employment, training or skills (or a change in employment if earning under the living wage).
- In need of support to travel to a work, training or skills opportunity such as travel to interviews, open days, jobs fairs, courses, training, work placements, apprenticeships or the first month of a new job.
- Age 16 or over.
- A resident, asylum seeker or refugee in Bristol.
What will I get?
Bristol residents can get £150 off refurbished bikes at Bristol Bike Project, FixX , Lawrence Weston Bike Hub and Life Cycle UK – including a free lock and light set.
How do I apply and where can I get my bike from?
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FixX, Lawrence Weston Bike Hub, Lifecycle UK and The Bristol Bike Project offer our bike discount. Please fill in our referral form to access the bike discount, we will then refer you to one of the bike providers below.
FixX
Address: Hartcliffe Community Farm, Lampton Avenue, Hartcliffe, BS13 0QH
Tel: 07588 492154 (Tues/Weds only)
Lawrence Weston Bike Hub
Address: Henacre Rd, Lawrence Weston, Bristol BS11 0HA
Tel: 07516661801 (opens most Saturdays between 10:30am – 15:30pm)
Life Cycle UK
Address: (far end of car park), Horfield Prison, 19 Cambridge Road, BS7 8PS
Tel: 0117 924 5487
The Bristol Bike Project
Address: The Bristol Bike Project, 198-200 Stapleton Rd, Easton, Bristol BS5 0NY
Tel: 0117 951 2692
St Paul’s Bike Exchange
Address: Fern St, St Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 9LN
Tel: 07947 882371
You must have applied for this offer online, submitting your sponsor details, or been referred by a partner organisation.
Frequently asked questions
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All bikes will have a lock and lights included.
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It is not a legal requirement to wear a helmet whilst riding a bicycle in the UK. All participants should ensure they ride safely and do not endanger themselves or other road users. Cyclists should be aware of the Highway Code and how it applies to cyclists.
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We provide cycle training free of charge. See our Adult Cycle Training for more info.
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It is the responsibility of the owner to keep the bike in a safe and road worthy condition, if the bike develops a mechanical fault please contact the bike shop where you purchased the bike.
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Once participants have taken possession of a bike, it becomes entirely their responsibility. Bikes will be supplied with a good quality lock which should be used at all times. We also suggest that new owners record details such as serial numbers to assist with identifying the bike should it be lost or stolen.
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The bike is intended to help ensure participants can access employment or training and should be used for this purpose. We ask all participants to commit to keeping their bike for at least 6 months.
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For more help, or to get in touch regarding discounted bicycles please contact us.
Loan bikes
Where are loan bikes available?
Loan bikes are offered in Bristol and North Somerset.
How does it work?
If you’re over 16 and are struggling to get to interviews, training or work, you can borrow a bike from us.
The loan is free, but a returnable deposit is required. Loans are initially available for one month (two weeks for an electric bike), though there’s a limited number available for longer if required.
What type of bikes are available?
There’s a choice of bikes – electric assist, hybrid road and fold-up – all with a full kit of pannier bags, lights and locks.
To request a bike loan fill out the form at this link: Borrow a bike scheme – Better By Bike.
| Bristol | North Somerset |
|---|---|
| 1 month loans for regular bikes / 2 week loans for e-bikes (deposit required) | 1 month, normal commuter or folding bikes (no deposit) |
Free bike Service
Where can I get free bike service?
This service is offered in Bristol only.
What will I get?
Participants can receive a bike service for up to £80, this will provide you with a good level service so that you can get back on your bike. These sessions will be pre-booked with the Bristol Bike Project or Life Cycle UK and will take place on their premises. Please note that any agreed additional costs beyond £80 will need to be paid for by the participant.
In Bristol you can also access this service at FixX and Lawrence Weston Bike Hub.
How do I apply?
Free bike maintenance workshops
Where can I get bike maintenance workshops?
This free service is offered in Bristol.
Bristol
BEGINNER Bike maintenance training
This course is for individuals that are new to bike maintenance who want to keep their bikes in good shape and gain confidence in making basic adjustments and fixes. We have a few options available for this to suit your convenience:
LIFE CYCLE BEGINNER COURSE – Horfield
A 5 hour course where you learn to maintain your own bike and covers the basics like fixing punctures, setting up brakes, setting up gears, cleaning and lubricating your bike.
BRISTOL BIKE PROJECT BEGINNER COURSE – Easton
A 3 hour course covering the basics like fixing punctures, brake adjustments, using brakes and gears, bike repair tools, and cleaning and lubricating your bike.
BRISTOL BIKE PROJECT INTENSIVE COURSE – Easton
A 6 hour course covering common repairs, including a complete bike check, fitting new brakes and cables, calibrating the gears, fixing a chain, replacing the tyre and tubes and mending punctures.
Adult cycle training and accompanied rides
Where is cycle training available?
Cycle training and accompanied rides are on offer in all areas in Bristol and North Somerset.
How does it work?
If you’re new to cycling, or if you just want to improve your road skills, you can book a private training session with an instructor.
Sessions can be tailored to any level of experience and, best of all, you can get them for FREE in some places, or for a very small fee.
Journey and route planning
Where is journey and route planning available?
This offer is available in all areas in Bristol and North Somerset.
How does it work?
Let an experienced travel advisor help you work out your best route options so that you can easily make your way to your new workplace, training course or apprenticeship. Our partner organisations will be able to arrange this for you. Alternatively, if you are unable to get this arranged via a partner organisation, contact us.
Further info
- Want to find out which Partner Organisations work with us?
- Referrals and self-referrals
- If you’ve taken up one of our offers, let us know how it went
- Your data is safe with us, find out more
Contact us
Please contact your local officer, according to the area you’re based in.
If you're based in North Somerset:
Public Transport team
If you're based in Bristol:
Wheels to Work (10am – 4pm on business days)
Funding
Wheels to Work West has been developed under the Capability Fund and is part of a wider programme of work, funded by the Department for Transport and the West of England Partnership, to encourage sustainable travel, economic growth and reduce carbon emissions. Its specific aims are to overcome transport barriers that may prevent people accessing employment and training opportunities in the West of England.
