Image: JoeCotterill/CyclingUK
People in Leicester are being afforded the opportunity to discover the ‘cost, health and environmental benefits’ of e-cycling, through a scheme which provides free one-month loans of e-cycles.
‘Making cycling e-asier’ is a national project, run by Cycling UK and funded by DfT.
On 20 February, the first Making cycling e-asier community hub opened in Leicester.
Free one-month loans are now available to book, and skills and confidence sessions will be rolled out in the coming months.
Residents will be able to access the scheme until October 2023, by which time it is hoped more than 6,000 people will have benefited.
Jesse Norman, cycling minister, said: “E-cycles can play a vital part in helping more people, including older people and those with disabilities, to stay active for their local journeys, boosting health while reducing congestion and helping the environment.
“That is why the Government has invested £8m in the Making cycling e-asier campaign.”
Data cited by Cycling UK shows that 59% of journeys under five miles are driven.
The charity hopes by giving people the opportunity to discover the benefits of e-cycling, an increasing number will make the decision to pedal more and cut down on unnecessary short car journeys.
Jenny Box, deputy director of Making cycling e-asier, said: “Cycling UK is delighted to launch the first Making cycling e-asier community hub in Leicester. Working with local projects across England allows us to reach a wide audience, to encourage them to try using an e-cycle for short journeys.
“Making cycling e-asier’s loans and skills and confidence sessions are completely free. As people struggle with the impact on the cost of living and look for greener ways to travel, we hope we can help many more people to consider e-cycling as an everyday affordable mode of transport.”
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