Michael Polom

I help local authorities, charities and community organisations get more people cycling and walking, for work, play and life.

I've over 15 years' experience across local government, the third sector and grassroots organising, I bring practical experience in behaviour change, stakeholder engagement, project management, travel planning, and community-led projects.

I'm available for freelance consultation. If you're trying to get more people on bikes, shift how your organisation thinks about travel, or make the case for investment in active travel infrastructure, I'd love to help. Get in touch.

Work with me

I can help with:

• Behaviour change & active travel programmes — designing and delivering projects that get people walking and cycling, not just building the infrastructure and hoping for the best
• Workplace travel planning — I ran Colchester's Travel Plan Club for seven years, working with 20+ businesses and organisations to reduce car dependency and navigate the practicalities
• Community engagement — running meaningful consultation that actually shapes outcomes, not just ticks a box
• Funding bids & project management — I've secured and managed DEFRA-funded projects; I know how to write for funders and deliver on what you promise
• Cycle mapping & wayfinding — I led the community-focused redesign of the Colchester cycle map; I understand how to balance user needs, design, and political constraints

I'm particularly useful to local authorities, charities, and community organisations who need someone who's done the thing rather than just advised on it.

I'd love to hear from you

Past work

Various things i've done in the past and organisations i've worked with/for. Some for money, some not.

• Colchester City Council - DEFRA-funded air quality projects; developed an eCargo bike app for low-carbon last-mile delivery; redesigned the Colchester cycle map using community-led research.
• Colchester Travel Plan Club - coordinated workplace travel planning across 20+ local businesses and organisations for seven years
• Colchester Bike Kitchen - co-founded in 2015; now a two-days-a-week do-it-together community workshop with 20 volunteers
• Re~Cycle, Bikes to Africa - bicycle refurbishment and Dr Bike servicing at the University of Essex
• Creative Co-op - community engagement and asset mapping in partnership with Locality
• Colchester Cycling Campaign - cycling advocacy and campaign support. Created the Colchester Cycling Charter with 52 signatory organisations and 500+ individual supporters.
• Good For Nothing Colchester - organised hack-day events supporting local charities and social enterprises
• Colchester Bike Jumble, Blackwater Polytechnic, The Waiting Room, Colchester ALLEYCAT

If you'd like to pay me to do something like this for you, please get in touch.