People living in Leicester can now take advantage of a new city council initiative offering a free four-week loan of an electric cycle.
The Leicester E-Cycles Loan Scheme, led by the City Council and funded by Active Travel England, aims to encourage residents to consider e-cycles as a practical, eco-friendly alternative to cars for short trips.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
To qualify, participants must be Leicester residents and hold an Active Leicester membership. Signing up for a free pay-as-you-go membership is simple, and there are no costs involved in borrowing an e-cycle. Applicants must be aged 16 or over.
The goal of the scheme is to get more people cycling regularly and reduce reliance on cars for shorter journeys. Those who borrow an e-cycle and complete a travel diary documenting their use will receive a voucher to put towards buying their own electric cycle.
About 100 e-cycles will be available to borrow during this two-year pilot project.
Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “We’re pleased to be launching this new and completely free electric cycle loan scheme, thanks to funding from Active Travel England. It will offer people a chance to try before they buy and hopefully encourage more people to discover the benefits of cycling for short journeys. It’s also a great opportunity for people to explore the city by bike.”
All e-cycles provided through the scheme comply with UK regulations for electrically assisted pedal cycles. This includes a maximum continuous power output of 250 watts and motor assistance that cuts out at speeds above 15.5mph, in line with the legal limit.
For more information visit: www.leicester.gov.uk/cycleleicester
