A new scheme to encourage key workers to choose cycling as their preferred mode of travel has got off to a flying start.
Within a week of its launch, the Isle of Wight Council’s Key Worker Cycle Scheme has given more than 30 key workers access to a bicycle and enabled over 100 more to repair bikes which they already own.
The initiative enables key workers to have free access to a bike on long term loan, and where a key worker already owns a bike, the scheme will provide a £50 voucher which can be redeemed against repairs and essential accessories.
One of the first participants in the cycle loan scheme was Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Cath Quin, based out of Yarmouth. She said:
“The arrangement to loan a bike was really easy and the bike was delivered quickly. It’s making a big difference to my ability to get around the rural West Wight and do my job.”
The council is working in partnership with established Island cycle hire businesses, Wight Cycle Hire and RouteFifty7, as well as cycle shops and mobile cycle mechanics to deliver the scheme.
It forms part of the council’s Connect2Work initiative, which promotes sustainable and active travel options to employees and jobseekers, and its Access Fund programme, delivered using external funding secured from the Department for Transport.
Council leader Dave Stewart said:
“Key workers are essential to keeping the Island running at this challenging time, and this scheme will support those key workers for which cycling can form part of their travel plans.
“With much lower levels of vehicular traffic currently on our roads and with summer approaching, there’s no better time for key workers to consider cycling for commuting and business travel.”
Claire Compton, director of RouteFifty7, said:
“We are delighted to partner with the Isle of Wight Council to deliver the new 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 new scheme include a helmet, a lock and delivery.
For full details of the scheme visit www.connect2work.info/keyworkercyclescheme.
Do they expect Poor nurse’s and doctors who do a 12 hour shift to have to cycle to and from work as well. Tacking the piss.
Thought exactly the same. Big difference a pleasant sunday cycle ride to watching all the well to do wizz past you in huge cars, whilst you breath in their fumes and suffer aching legs after standing up all day.
On your bike to such a mental idiotic scheme. One day of rain will put paid to that anyway.
We are awash with cheap oil, lets us it and let the next chav multicultural generation sort it all out.
If people had less offspring then the world could cope with less people driving less cars. So as we had cut down OUR birth rate, then the Gov bring in the third world to make up the numbers. So now I suggest we do as we please and let the next wise generation deal with it.
Waste of money, those who will, already have cycles and those that who already have and do their bikes will already be maintained. Its good to appreciate their work but this is just a waste.
I’ve been going up and down a few hills in Ryde on my bike as my daily exercise, and I’ve had a handful of youngish people flying past me! While trying not to get a complex, I’ve noticed they are on those jet propelled electric versions. And low and behold this all makes sense now, there must be a fair few electric bikes up for grabs on the scheme.
Great idea for the key workers, can make short work of a commute.
If you want to go to work on two wheels .then get a Harley . Why would you want to knacker yourself out and get sweaty .
IF, by going to work, you cannot afford to own and run a car, then don’t work.
The chavy breeding slobs all have cars, all paid for by breeding more clones to ruin the lives of others.
Unless you can afford better than what HMG is giving those in free houses not paying council tax, getting everything they bred paid for then I say don’t bother at all. You are not being proud, just a mug nowadays.