Four e-bike stations join project

Forth Valley’s electric bike scheme surged forward this week with the launch of four new stations, including in Bannockburn ad Tillicoultry.

The Forth Bike initiative also launched stations in Falkirk and Stenhousemuir, taking the number of hire points across the region from five to nine.

The 120 e-bike project, which was launched by charity Forth Environment Link last June, is Scotland’s largest and the UK’s only cross regional scheme; connecting three council areas: Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.

The £500,000 initiative, funded by Transport Scotland, NHS Forth Valley, SESTRAN, Clackmannanshire Council, Stirling Council and Falkirk Council, already includes five bike hire charging stations at Stirling University, Stirling Health and Care Village, The Helix (Kelpies), the Falkirk Wheel and Forth Valley Royal Hospital. There is also a virtual docking point at Stirling railway station.

Clara Walker, executive director of Forth Environment Link, said:“The addition of four more stations will widen access to the scheme, meaning more local people can take advantage of easy, affordable low carbon travel. The e-bikes last for up to 60 miles on a single charge, making them a real alternative to the car.”

An annual pass for Forth Bike, which uses the latest electric bikes by Canadian firm Bewegen Technologies Inc, costs £65 per year for unlimited journeys or £2 for a single journey.