E-bikes to be loaned out free

CITY ONE OF FIVE LOCATIONS TAKING PART IN TRIAL SCHEME

ELECTRIC bicycles are to be loaned to people free of charge under a trial scheme to run in Leicester.

Leicester is one of five cities where the government-funded Cycling Made e-asy initiative will be rolled out, allowing residents a chance to try e-bikes for three months.

The aim is to introduce people who would not usually consider cycling to try it. Backers hope to get 12,000 people e-cycling this year.

The five trial areas, Greater Manchester, Leicester, Sheffield, Luton and Dunstable and Hull, were chobecause they have high levels of poverty.

This scheme will be targeted at people who are currently under-represented in cycling.

The programme, led by Cycling UK, aims to dispel common myths and build awareness of e-cycles.

Sarah Mitchell, Cycling UK’s chief executive, said: “The e-cycles project is a unique opportunity for Cycling UK to offer free and easy loans of electric cycles to communities across England.

“Each of our chosen locations will have a variety of e-cycles available to suit a variety of participant’s needs.

“At Cycling UK, we understand that taking the first step to start cycling can be a difficult prospect for many people.

“This project will allow them to access an e-cycle without obstacles holding them back, to help them make real changes to their travel habits.”

Leicester residents will be able to sign up online to borrow an e-bike.

There will be 930 e-bikes and 70 non-standard bikes, such as tricysen cles. Training will be included with the loans, although cyclists will need to be safe to ride independently already.

Cycling UK is aiming to have the trial up and running by the end of July.

The £8 million scheme is part of the Prime Minister’s Cycling and Walking Plan (Gear Change) to boost cycling and walking.

The plan aims for half of all journeys in towns and cities to be cycled or walked by 2030.

Cycling minister Trudy Harrison said: “E-cycles are a great way for people with longer or hillier journeys to travel and the £8 million we have provided for this scheme will help make cycling the natural first choice for many journeys – a key government commitment from the Prime Minister’s Cycling and Walking plan.

“I’m grateful to Cycling UK for delivering this scheme on our behalf, giving people across the UK the opportunity to try something new while doing good for the planet.”