Chorlton Bikes
Community Benefit Society · South Manchester
Cargo bikes, trishaws and community rides, run by a co-op you can join for a pound. We take vans off the streets we live on, pay the Real Living Wage, and work to make the communities we live in a better place.
What we do
Community work, and deliveries for local businesses and the public sector. Open a card if you might use a service, get involved, or benefit from it.
Every day, volunteers collect surplus food from local businesses and residents and deliver it to foodbanks across South Manchester. It cuts food waste and gets good food to people who need it.
If you're a shop, café or household with food to pass on, we'd like to hear from you.
For people with mobility issues or other significant barriers getting to Unicorn Grocery. We offer Shop & Drop, or You Shop, We Drop.
To be eligible you need a physical or mental health obstacle that stops you shopping in person, and you live in Chorlton or the M21 borders.
We run a trishaw scheme across South Manchester, so older people and anyone with limited mobility can get back out in the fresh air.
Rides are free when they're offered through community organisations.
We work with Refugee Aid (Care UK), reviving unused bikes for asylum-seekers and refugees. A donated bike can mean work, college, or simply getting across the city.
With support from TfGM we run a bike library, to get more people in the community onto bikes. That includes Bromptons, a tandem for co-commuters, and an Estarli electric cargo bike families can try.
Have an idea for a community project? Our riders and fleet of electric cargo bikes can help you make it happen.
Our NHS contract is a daily round: collections from doctors' surgeries across South and Central Manchester, specimens carried in specialised containers to local hospitals.
We can support other NHS trusts, health institutions and pharmacies.
Bread from city-centre bakeries to local shops, platters to businesses, cheese and veg boxes to people's doors. Business-to-business and straight to the customer.
The bikes are fitted so food arrives dry, secure and contamination-free.
We deliver leaflets and flyers to South Manchester residents, and magazines to businesses and social venues — bars, theatres and the like. Local knowledge is the point.
Hire the trishaw and a pilot for a wedding, a birthday, a celebration or a corporate event.
Regular rounds or a one-off. We've carried Christmas trees, books, beer and plenty more. Tell us what you need.
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Van miles kept off the road
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Tonnes of carbon saved
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Foodbank donation collections
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Bikes passed on for refugees
August
Bike library
Thanks to TfGM, an Estarli Longtail is on its way. It carries up to three children. Local families will be able to hire it free for a week.
Pride
Glynis took Cllr Tracey Rawlins, Disability Advocate for the Bee Network, out on the trishaw for the Pride parade.
10 August
Tom piloted the trishaw at a fun day in Levenshulme, with Taskforce, Friends of the Earth, Keep Manchester Tidy, Noor Masjid and the council.
This summer
Chris at Ride and Stride in Seymour Park, Tom at Merseybank Family Fun Day, and Glynis at Old Moat. Rides for local residents, all ages.
Wythenshawe
Albert delivered letters and permits for Live at Wythenshawe, as he has for the last couple of years. The festival put him on the guest list for Pulp.
Coming up
The second annual ride is planned for late September or early October, once Bailey Bridge is in. Luke Shepherd will film it. We'll share the date when it's fixed.
Films
A look at the work as it happens, out in the community. The rides, the deliveries, and the people on either side of them.
Chorlton Bike Deliveries, out in the community. The hi-vis still says Deliveries.
The ride through South Manchester. Riders, neighbours, and the park at the end.
Manchester City Council's Social Value team, filming at the Boiler House. Nick, Glynis and Lucy.
TfGM's film about the cycleway. Mick and Reg are in it.
A short promo for the directory of businesses that put people first. Mick, again.
In their words
People in the community. Riders, neighbours we deliver for, and people the services are there to help.
I love cycling because it's a better alternative to cars. At Chorlton Bikes we share that philosophy. Also maintaining our fleet of bikes is a very rewarding activity.
They emerged to meet the needs of local people who either couldn't make it into shops, or those who could but weren't able to carry shopping home. They were one of those beacons of hope and care and solidarity in a dark time, and remain a beautiful part of our community and the Unicorn family.
I've found the Shop & Drop service to make a massive difference to my health, physically and mentally. It is a big weight off my mind to know I can get healthy, natural food every week.
I ride for Chorlton Bikes because I want to be at the forefront of an active travel revolution. With every job we pick up with cargo bikes, we're spearheading a change in culture.
Ever since we switched to using Chorlton Bikes to fulfil our sample deliveries, the service we've received has been excellent. We initially came to reduce the impact of our deliveries on the planet, but we've received a first-rate, reliable service.
To say that this service changes lives is no exaggeration. Having good quality food delivered by Chorlton Bikes from local outlets and supermarkets really does make all the difference.
Get involved
We're a Community Benefit Society. A £1 share makes you a member, with a say in how we're run. If you like what we do, a donation helps keep the rides and services open for more people. If you can't afford to give, that's fine.
The pool of riders is growing. Paid roles are Real Living Wage. Volunteer rides are welcome too. You don't need to have ridden a cargo bike before.
Operations, community projects, bike care, events. If riding isn't your thing, there is still a place for you. Your time is part of how the society works.
Email us to volunteerWho we are
We're a Real Living Wage employer. About 80% of what we spend goes to people: the riders and the staff.
A grassroots response to Covid. Neighbours with cargo bikes, so people in Chorlton could keep shopping locally. That was Chorlton Bike Deliveries.
We became a Community Benefit Society, and Chorlton Bikes. Member-owned, one share, one vote. Membership is a pound.
From the Boiler House in Moss Side: fewer emissions on local streets, support for the communities we live in, and Real Living Wage jobs.
Operations lead
I joined Chorlton Bikes as a rider in April 2022. As I've become more involved, my passion for all things cycling has deepened, and I've developed valuable skills in bike mechanics, ride leading, and First Aid. I'm truly grateful to have a job that not only brings me joy but also contributes positively to our community.
Operations lead
I started working with Chorlton Bikes in 2024. I'm a Chorlton resident and strongly believe in the work we do for the community.
Board member and co-founder
I was a founding director of Chorlton Bikes in 2021. As a resident of Chorlton for over 40 years I was motivated by a wish to see fewer vehicles on our roads and cleaner air. I am proud of our achievements to date and am happy to continue to give my time voluntarily, after a rewarding career working in health and social care in Greater Manchester.
Board member and co-founder
I'm one of five founding members of Chorlton Bikes and have lived in Chorlton over 30 years. I'm a lifelong everyday cyclist and am so proud to be a part of the Chorlton Bikes community. Now retired from a career in welfare rights, and I work as a community cook leader for Cracking Good Food.
Board member and co-founder
A local resident for more than 25 years, I hadn't got on a bike since my teenage years before getting involved in setting up Chorlton Bikes. I was one of the founding directors, and now sit on the board. I'm really proud of everything we've done so far and excited to see what Chorlton Bikes will achieve into the future.
Board member and co-founder
When Covid hit in March 2020 I was lucky to connect with an incredible group of new friends who had the same idea — to use cargo bikes to help people keep shopping locally. The group we created went on to become Chorlton Bikes Community Benefit Society. Ours is a true story of community. In my day job I am a transport strategy officer working on walking and cycling here and the Bee Network, in Greater Manchester.
Board member
I joined Chorlton Bikes in 2022 as a way to give back to our community, while indulging my love of cycling. Since then I've become more involved as a board member, looking after our finances and technology. I'm incredibly proud of the work we do and the positive impact we have on people's lives in Chorlton and beyond.
Board member
I joined Chorlton Bikes in 2021 after having a go on a cargo bike and experiencing the cargo bike smile. I believe passionately in the benefits of active travel for all. With Chorlton Bikes I get to ride some cool bikes, whilst helping the community and the planet.
Alongside
