The free Key Worker Cycle Loan Scheme from the Isle of Wight Council has reopened once again to help support key workers through lockdown.
The aim of the scheme is to encourage key workers to choose cycling as their preferred mode of travel.
During the last 2 lockdowns, social workers, hospital staff, teachers, supermarket staff and prison officers were among those to receive free access to a loan bike for a month.
4 e-bikes are now also available as part of the loan scheme. These will be provided on a first come first served basis. Applicants interested in borrowing an e-bike will need to write a short paragraph in their application form explaining how it will help them to start cycling to work. The strongest applications will receive an e-bike as their loan.
The council is continuing to work in partnership with established Island cycle hire businesses, Wight Cycle Hire and RouteFifty7, to deliver the scheme.
Gerard William Driffield, an outreach support worker at Ryde House, said:
“Having the bike during lockdown meant I didn’t have to use public transport. It meant I could get to work quicker and safer as I didn’t have so much interaction with other people.”
The scheme forms part of the council’s Connect2Work initiative, which promotes sustainable and active travel options to employees and jobseekers. That, in turn, is part of the authority’s Access Fund programme funded by the Department for Transport.
Councillor Ian Ward, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said:
“Key workers are essential to keeping the Island running at this challenging time, and this scheme supports those for which cycling can form part of their travel plans.
“With much lower levels of vehicular traffic currently on our roads, there’s no better time for key workers to consider cycling for their essential travel.”
Claire Compton, director of RouteFifty7, said:
“We are delighted to continue to partner with the Isle of Wight Council to once again deliver the Key Worker Cycle Scheme.
“We have a large fleet of hire bikes which are normally popular with visitors, but with visitors currently absent from the Island, it makes perfect sense to make them available to local key workers.”
All hire bikes loaned to key workers through the scheme include a helmet, a lock, lights and delivery.
For full details of the scheme, and to apply, visit www.connect2work.info/keyworkercyclescheme.
Now, let’s see….
‘The IoW Council is pleading POVERTY, and clearly stating that the budget (as if they know the meaning of the word) is very short of cash and they have to greatly increase Council Tax for the coming year (ignoring the fact that an awful lot of people are in reduced circumstances), and yet, they can find money to subsidise e-bike hire!
I know it’s probably not a lot of money (did I really just say that knowing the financial acumen of our Council), but I suppose it is for a worthwhile cause…
I believe it is actually funded by the department for transport. I doubt our council would have the humanity to put its hand in its own pocket.
Makes you wonder how many of the top council workers and councillors have taken up hiring an Ebike.
I looked into an ebike hiring or buying through wage deduction and it turned out cheaper to buy outright privately rather than hiring or buying through wage deduction.
To many cars on the road to ride a bike safe on the road these days.Also not the best time of year with ice on the roads and wind and rain.
Our top council leaders on massive salaries would be happy to see some NHS worker facing freezing conditions and rain on the busy and dangerous road to the Hospital as they roar past them in a ‘expenses’ paid for Jag, full heated seats, with all the comforts paid for by OUR council tax.
Vote this vile and greedy bunch OUT of office next time. SEE what they are like.
Yeah, why bother trying to change that. Let’s build some more roads for more cars. Then complain about more traffic, honestly!