This summer, charity Cycling UK has been helping NHS staff in Luton discover the cost, health and environmental benefits of e-cycling regularly.
Since providing free e-cycle loans at Luton and Dunstable Hospital in April 2023 through its Making cycling e-asier project, bikes and skills and confidence sessions have been snapped up by those looking to save money during the cost-of-living-crisis and whizz to work with confidence.
The loans and opportunities to try e-cycles isn’t just limited to NHS staff. Cycling UK is inviting communities across Luton and Dunstable to celebrate Cycle to Work Day on Thursday 3 August by signing up to the scheme, which is available across several locations in the area.
By driving less and cycling more, NHS staff have cut down on shorter journeys to and from work, which previously they might have driven, and in doing so made the daily commute more enjoyable.
Simon Cooper, helpdesk coordinator at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital, said:
“As a regular cyclist I was intrigued by e-bikes and wanted to use my car less, so I signed up for a free one-month loan. The Making cycling e-asier team spent time showing me how everything worked, and what to expect which put me at ease before I pedalled home that day with confidence.
“As soon as I started moving forward, the extra weight of the motor and battery wasn’t noticeable, and I found riding it really fun.
“The loan proved to be zero-cost for me as Cycling UK monitored and charged my e-bike regularly. For me it’s a no brainer, everyone should get out there on an e-bike.”
Jenny Box, deputy director of Making cycling e-asier, commented:
“The success and interest in our e-bike loans at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital shows how a bit of an electric assist can be for everyone – whether you’re looking to save money, time, get fit or make your commute a bit greener.
“The loans and skills and confidence sessions are completely free and available to everyone over the age of 18. 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.”
This Cycle to Work Day, Luton & Dunstable University Hospital will be awarded with a Modeshift Stars Bronze Award which means that the hospital has successfully delivered active travel initiatives.
Luton & Dunstable residents can access free one-month e-cycle loans from Evans Cycles, alongside loans and skills and confidence sessions which are available at the Making cycling e-asier community hub at Inspire: Luton Sports Village.
Funded by the Department for Transport, people can sign up and find more information about the scheme via Cycling UK’s website.
One month e-cycle loans are based on a first come first serve basis with limited availability.
Confirmed Making cycling e-asier partners, supporting the delivery, include Evans Cycles, Raleigh Bikes, Specialized, Tier Mobility, Islabikes, Wheels for All, Bikeworks, Fusion Media, Modeshift, Cyclescheme, Bike Right, Sharebike, Transport for Quality of Life.
For more information, please visit cyclinguk.org/making-cycling-e-asier.
ENDS
For more information, please contact the national Cycling UK press office. If you would like to speak to a member of the press office during working hours (0900-1700) please call Joanne Clark on 07917 243925 or email publicity@cyclinguk.org. Out of hours, call 07584 271 300
Cycling UK, the UK’s cycling charity, imagines a world where the streets are free of congestion and the air is clean to breathe, where parents encourage their children to cycle to school and everyone shares the exhilaration of being in the saddle. For more than 140 years, we’ve been making our streets safer, opening up new traffic free routes and inspiring more people to cycle more often. cyclinguk.org
The Department for Transport works with its agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UK’s businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. It plans and invests in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move.
The new executive agency, Active Travel England, delivers the Government’s cycling and walking priorities, enabling more people in England to choose walking and cycling for their everyday journeys.
