Peeblesshire residents to get chance to ride e-bikes for free at ‘fantastic’ event
WALKERBURN and Tweed Valley residents will soon have a chance to try out an electric bike. . . free of charge.
The SEStran (South East Scotland Transport Partnership) ‘Do The Ride Thing’ event comes to the town on Thursday, March 28.
A fleet of e-bikes will be available for the local community to try out with cycling instructors there to lend a helping hand.
The event is part of SEStran’s project promoting the use of e-bikes for travel and leisure throughout the region throughout March and April.
Sarah Birks, from Peeblesbased project organisers Hillside Outside, said: “It’s going to be a fantastic event, offering the local community the chance to try out e-bikes for free and raise awareness of the Walkerburn GO eBike Hub and the services they offer.”
The main objective of the project is to encourage people to replace short local trips made by cars with e-bikes.
The campaign ties in with a previous Go-e-Bike project locally and makes use of electric bikes permanently available and based at the Walkerburn hub.
Innerleithen-based Ridelines MTB instructors will help participants safely try out the bikes, with all safety equipment, including helmets, provided.
Andy Weir from Ridelines MTB said: “We’re delighted to support this project and look forward to helping people discover the benefits and ease of riding an e-bike for short trips locally - whether that’s the convenience of popping to the local shops or simply to enjoy the stunning Borders countryside all around us. E-bikes can take you further with less effort and more joy.”
The Do The Ride Thing event will take place from 10am to 2pm at the GO e-Bike Hub, located behind Unit 7, Tweedvale Mills
East, Walkerburn, EH43 6AB.
Walkerburn Community Development Trust (WCDT) runs the hub and has a number of e-bikes on loan from SEStran.
Katrina Malone, a volunteer from the WCDT, said: “The ebikes are a brilliant way of getting us all moving around with a wee electric boost under us!
“We’re looking forward to hosting the event and it would be fantastic to see more people out riding the e-bikes and making use of the services we offer at the hub.”