Bike Shed founders recognised in the New Year’s Honours List

The husband and wife team who created London’s Bike Shed – Vikki and Anthony ‘Dutch’ van Someren – have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List.

The pair have been awarded the British Empire Medal for their work in the Covid-19 response effort. After Vikki put out an appeal for a friend in need, the couple were astounded by the incredible reaction from the motorcycling community and quickly set up the Bike Shed Community Response initiative.

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The scheme then linked up with Gohpr, a courier app, and things really took off. MCN’s News Editor, Jordan Gibbons, joined the group in May to help deliver PPE equipment.

By the end of 2020, nearly 2000 riders had signed up to the project and had delivered PPE equipment, food, test kits and Oximiser Pulse Readers across the UK.

And the group’s work is still ongoing with a recent partnership with Rubicon UK, who are leading Operation React which ensures that the most vulnerable members of society are getting the testing, food and medical equipment they need.

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Dutch van Someren said: “Our volunteers are an amazing cross-section of the biking community and are testament to the power of people and the good character of people who ride motorcycles.

“Sadly our work continues as the crisis is not over and the vulnerable in particular need our help as much as ever.”