E-bike funding for Norfolk
£250k has been awarded
More residents across Norfolk will get to trial e-bikes in the coming months following government confirmation today of a successful funding bid from the County Council.
£250,000 has been awarded to the council through the Department for Transport's E-Cycle Extension Fund to increase the use of e-bikes in our region by removing barriers to trial and ownership.
In particular this funding aims to target those who are excluded from existing schemes to access e-bikes such as the Cycle to Work scheme. These groups include people who are retired, on low incomes, or in higher education or training.
The funding will be delivered through a range of initiatives which will include making e-bikes available to trial on free-loan from bicycle shops across the county and increasing the number of E-bikes available for on-street hire through the current Beryl scheme, which will also see its operating area extended to other parts of Greater Norwich.
Councillor Andrew Jamieson, Norfolk County Council's walking and cycling champion said:
"Encouraging more people to walk or cycle supports our goals as a council to reduce carbon emissions and improve the health of our residents. This much needed funding will enable us to do just that, by removing barriers for people to give e-bikes a try and support us in promoting greener travel options across the whole county."
Councillor Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council's cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport said:
"I am delighted we have been successful in getting this funding. The Beryl bikes are already proving popular in Norwich and having a positive impact on both people's travel habits and the environment. These changes are key drivers of our Transforming Cities programme which funded the scheme's introduction and this funding will enable us to build on that success by providing more people with a viable alternative to travelling by car."
Cycling Minister Chris Heaton Harris said:
"As we build back greener from the pandemic, this Government is committed to enabling as many people as possible to boost their health and fitness and help reduce emissions by hopping on a bike and taking up cycling for shorter journeys.
"Today's announcement will help make this happen, with a total of £1.48 million going towards fantastic initiatives in areas right across the country to promote the use of e-cycles. So whether you're new to cycling, or would like to try a cycle that does some of the legwork for you, these initiatives will help more people to have access to active forms of travel."
Phil Ellis, CEO, Beryl said:
''E-bikes have an important role to play in expanding access to cycling, with many people taking journeys that they may previously have been unable to on a conventional bike.
''Their inclusion in our scheme makes e-bikes both affordable and increasingly accessible. We're therefore delighted to be able to add more e-bikes in Norwich as part of this funding, giving many more people the opportunity to benefit from them.''
The funding will also make adapted e-bikes available and allow the expansion of other incentives, training and e-bike promotion currently delivered through the council's Pushing Ahead initiative to wider audiences across Norfolk.