More residents will be able to experience the benefits of electric bikes, thanks to a funding boost.

The Council has secured £70k to purchase ten e-bikes and four adapted e-trikes for residents to loan for free. The money will also fund the installation of supporting infrastructure, including two lockable e-bike on-street storage hangars, and will enable the Council to provide a range of other supporting measures, including free e-cycle training sessions.

The funding was secured from the Government following a successful bid by the West of England Combined Authority.

Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel said: “This is fantastic news and will help us in our efforts to tackle the climate emergency and improve air quality by encouraging residents and businesses to swop their vehicles for more sustainable modes of transport.

“We know the steep hills in our towns and city poses a barrier to using traditional bikes for some people. Electric bikes and trikes overcome this issue, as you don’t have to use pedal power alone, enabling many more of us to take positive action to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality as we work towards achieving net zero.”

If you would like to try an e-bike on our free loan scheme, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BANESLOANBIKE

Plans on where to locate the bike hangars will be subject to a public consultation later this year.