Beryl is launching an innovative scheme on the Isle of Wight to provide access to electric bikes (e-bikes) for Island residents who regularly travel between Newport and Cowes.
The operator, who already runs the e-scooter hire pilot on the Island, is making e-bikes available in the towns of Newport and Cowes over the next 6 months – with a focus on underrepresented groups. Participants will be able to use the bikes at no cost for 1 month and will be incentivised through mileage payments of 60p per mile, up to £50 for the month.
Delivered in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council and the Department for Transport, the scheme has a number of key objectives:
- Providing those who may not currently have access to an e-bike with an opportunity to try one.
- Reducing single occupancy private car journeys between Newport and Cowes. The two towns are connected by the Red Squirrel Trail, a former railway line which was closed as a result of Beeching cuts in the 1960s. The trail is just over 5km in length, and offers an attractive traffic free cycling experience.
- Raising awareness of the role that e-bikes can play in replacing short car journeys, reducing congestion and air pollution for everyone.
Overall, it will run for 6 months, and Beryl will be asking participants for feedback throughout, in order to gauge the impact that the e-bikes have. Growing in popularity, e-bikes have a range of benefits – including enabling people to make further and more journeys by bike than they would on a standard bicycle.
The e-bikes available as part of this scheme are the same as those that Beryl offers for hire within its existing schemes in Norwich, Hereford and Watford.
Anyone interested in applying should visit https://beryl.cc/news/introducing-e-bike-rental-pilot-on-the-isle-of-wight.
Beryl CEO Philip Ellis has said:
‘’We’re delighted to be running this scheme on the Isle of Wight. As the UK’s only B Corp certified micromobility operator, playing our part in improving accessibility to active travel is a core aspect of our values.
Article continues below this advertisement ‘’Scooters on the Island have already been used by over 12,500 individual users and the benefits that e-bikes can provide should be enjoyed by as many people as possible. With price often being a barrier to ownership, schemes such as this will play a key role in widening and expanding access.
‘’We can’t wait to see people riding in Newport and Cowes, and look forward to hearing people’s experiences of using our e-bikes.’’
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet Member for Highways PFI, Transport and Infrastructure, adds:
“I am especially delighted that the Island is running an e-bike scheme and confident the trial period will be a great success. I’m sure many people will want to take advantage of these fantastic modes of sustainable travel and I look forward to further expansion of the e-bike scheme around the Island in the not too distant future”
Look out dog walkers and parents with small children as the trail will be a further high risk with the extra traffic,bad enough now with the way some race along there not considerate to others. More accidents in future.Why is IOW putting up council tax and then paying out to these B lot at 60p a mile – when did I give consent to this ?
Who said the council were paying the costs/incentive?
Awesome. Cant wait to try one. Sadly tho the usual killjoys will be along in a minute to say they must be banned, how lethal they are, irresponsible riding etc etc etc blah blah……..
Brilliant more muppets to look out for on the pavements and going through red lights yet it was the police teaching car drivers about bike awareness
Let’s hope that unlike the e-scooters, they use the roads and not the pavements for the journey back and forth. Or. perhaps, the cycle track.
Participants will be able to use the bikes at no cost for 1 month and will be incentivised through mileage payments of 60p per mile, up to £50 for the month.
…….
well – some ingenious person, will no doubt put the bike on a rolling road or just lift the wheels off the ground and have the wheels spin round to run up the mileage and claim £50 – then hand the bike back before charging starts
They are GPS tracked actually so that wont work.
They use GPS
Cowes to Newport is already chaos. Crazy idea
So people currently using their own bikes to commute can get paid £50 to get someone else’s bike wet during the cold wet winter months. Then go back to their proper bike. Great trial.
I guess you didn’t actually read the article?
Why?
What makes you think that? How will they know if somebody already has an e bike of their own?
They won’t Ryde Reader. Btw, can’t seem to vote on plato’s posts, strange that, wonder who it is.
with a focus on underrepresented groups. Participants will be able to use the bikes at no cost for 1 month and will be incentivised through mileage payments of 60p per mile, up to £50 for the month.
…..
define “underrepresented groups” – that had better not be some woke and pathetic discriminatory policy
Good more steps forward, it’s about time we have the opportunity to to try different methods of reducing car journeys. Is a bit pricey but it’s obviously not a charity. The scooters don’t take my fancy but a bike is a great way to travel.
Things have got to change to save this beautiful planet and every little helps but not sure on this one
Very good idea. I know a few people with electric bikes, gives them confidence to go out and exercise. Why on earth people would moan about this, such negative thoughts!. We all have to share the roads, cycle tracks etc abit more patience on all sides whatever mode of transport we use.