Leicester job seekers and apprentices to be offered electric bikes to get to work
Job seekers are being given help to get on their ebikes to look for work or training. Granby Street based electric bike specialist Ebike Centres are to be part of a landmark project to open up employment opportunities to job seekers who have, until now, been restricted by poor transport.
Reported by the Leicester Mercury (19 June 2015):
“Leicester City Council has teamed up with Melton Borough Council to offer a Wheels2Work scheme to people who live and work in the city.
It will offer short-term loans of bicycles, electric bikes or scooters to people finding it difficult to get to work or training because of lack of public transport.
Thirty-one bikes are on offer in the first phase including 14 pedal bikes, 15 electric bikes and two electric scooters.
Bikes costs just £10 per month, and the scooter will cost £30 per month. This includes loan of a helmet and lock, as well as insurance.
Adam Clarke, Assistant City Mayor said: “While much of Leicester is very well served by public transport, there are people who live and work in the city who don’t have a direct bus link between their home and place of work, or who work outside of normal bus service hours.
“By offering low-cost loans of bikes and electric scooters through Wheels2Work we are promoting environmentally friendly transport as a cheap and efficient alternative.”
People will be able to hire the machines for an initial six-month period.
The scheme will cost £40,000 in its first year as part of ‘Leicester – Fit for Business’ which has been given £5.75million of government money since 2011.
Future Cycles will provide the cycles with the 15 electric bikes provided by Ebike Centres in Granby Street. Both will offer test rides, safety training for new riders and city centre-based workshops for repairs or adjustments.
Liam Dunphy, managing director of Ebike Centres, said: “By equipping almost half of its Wheels2Work fleet with electric bikes, Leicester has set a benchmark for sustainable travel which other cities will want to adopt.”
… Please click here to read the full Leicester Mercury article.
