Leicester becomes latest to offer a free e-bikes scheme funded by Department of Transport
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
Leicester has become the latest city to offer a free e-bikes scheme to encourage people to leave their cars at home and pedal around the city. The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Transport, means people will be able to loan an e-cycle for an entire month.
People can also attend sessions to learn riding skills and to boost their confidence on the road in the coming months. Cycling UK said 59% of journeys under five miles are driven and says the scheme will show people how cost-effective cycling is.
According to a 2019 survey, 18,000 daily trips were taken by cycle in Leicester. Councillor Adam Clarke, deputy city mayor said:
"Making cycling as easy and safe as possible is key in changing the way people choose to travel and helping to tackle the climate emergency. Convenience is key – which is why we also invest in initiatives like our city centre bike park, which offers free secure cycle parking.
"We’re also seeing up to 400 trips per day on Santander Cycles Leicester, the city’s e-bike share scheme and the largest scheme of its kind in the UK. Making cycling easier will be a great scheme to complement this, giving people the chance to take out an extended e-bike loan and try before they buy."
Cycling UK said that by giving people the opportunity to discover the cost, health and environmental benefits of e-cycling, it will help cut down on unnecessary short car journeys. According to research by DfT, the average UK driver now spends £107 on petrol and £149 on diesel per month.
In comparison, cycle to work schemes, such as CycleScheme, allow people to buy a standard £1000 e-cycle for less than £60 per month for just one year, after which time the only costs will be charging and occasional maintenance.
Jenny Box, deputy director of Making Cycling 'E-asier' said: "We’re delighted to be giving locals in Leicester the opportunity to discover the amazing benefits of e-cycling through Evans Cycles, and later, community hubs. Making Cycling E-asier's loans and skills and confidence sessions are completely free, and we hope this will help more people to consider e-cycling as an everyday mode of transport.”
The scheme, which is backed by an £8 million investment from Department for Transport, successfully launched in Manchester in May this year. The initiative will roll out in additional locations across the country next year.