Making cycling e-asier offers free one-month TIER e-cycle loans to staff at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital with a dedicated team situated at the hospital to charge all e-cycle batteries regularly making it completely free to take part.
Since launching in April 2023, alongside offering free one-month loans of e-cycles, there are also dedicated skills and confidence sessions held at the hospital, for those who want to familiarise themselves with e-cycling.
The Making cycling e-asier workplace scheme offers employees at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital the opportunity to discover the cost, health and environmental benefits of e-cycling and cut down on unnecessary short car journeys to and from work, making the daily commute more enjoyable.
The loans and skills and confidence sessions for employees are completely free. As people struggle with the impact of 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
Jenny Box, deputy director of Making cycling e-asier
Jenny Box, deputy director of Making cycling e-asier said:
"We are delighted to see the success of our Luton & Dunstable University Hospital workplace hub and how well this has been received. Working with the NHS has allowed us to reach a wide audience and help them to discover the huge benefits of commuting by e-cycle.
“The loans and skills and confidence sessions for employees are completely free. As people struggle with the impact of 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.”
Joshua West, TIER Making cycling e-asier project manager said:
“It's fantastic to see new riders at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital embracing TIER’s e-bikes for their daily commute and improving their skills on two wheels. Every journey made by e-bike, instead of a petrol or diesel car, is reducing air pollution, improving congestion on roads, and decreasing carbon emissions to support Luton’s goal to be a net zero town by 2040.
“Whether you’re a seasoned bike rider or it's been some years since you last hopped on the saddle, the fleet of seventy e-bikes are currently available for all hospital staff to use, so why not test one out this summer and see how cycling can benefit you.”
With the 100th annual Bike Week taking place from 5 – 11 June 2023, marking a century of celebrating everyday cycling for everyone, Making cycling e-asier is also looking to encourage local residents to experience the scheme for themselves and see how they can use e-cycling for their daily commutes to work and local journeys.
Luton and Dunstable residents can access free one-month e-cycle loans from Evans Cycles, Luton & Dunstable, alongside loans available at the Making cycling e-asier community hub at Inspire: Luton Sports Village.
The Making cycling e-asier e-cycle programme delivers part of the Prime Minister’s ambitious Cycling and Walking Plan (Gear Change) to boost cycling and walking, with a vision for half of all journeys in towns and cities to be cycled or walked by 2030.
Cycling UK’s extensive experience of engaging with underrepresented groups means they recognise the barriers, challenges and perceptions that can deter people from trying cycling. Through their tried and tested behavioural change models, Cycling UK has the ability to deliver projects and programmes that attract diverse groups and empower communities.
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 the project home page.
This year, Yellow Jersey is offering one week’s free bicycle insurance for anyone taking part in Bike Week. The offer is valid from 5-11 June.
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 us. 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, will deliver the Government’s cycling and walking priorities, enabling more people in England to choose walking and cycling for their everyday journeys.
