Thanks to an extension of funding from the Welsh Government, Sustrans Cymru’s community e-bike borrowing project has been extended until 2024.
E-Move offers people across Wales the opportunity to borrow an e-bike for free for up to four weeks. Credit: Jonathan Bewley
The Welsh Government have committed a funding extension to ensure that the E-Move community e-bike project will extend until 2024.
E-Move is a project delivered by Sustrans Cymru that enables people across Wales to borrow an e-bike for free.
The aim of the project is to make e-bikes accessible to people, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and to show that more sustainable travel options exist.
Real alternative as a healthier, more affordable mode of transport
Lee Waters, Deputy Climate Change Minister with a responsibility for transport, said:
“We need to do all we can to encourage more people to swap their car for a bike to travel shorter journeys.
“Cycling isn’t just better for the environment, it’s much cheaper than running a car and great for your mental and physical health too.”
Entering its second year, E-Move operates in five different locations in Wales: Aberystwyth, Barry, Newtown, Rhyl, and Swansea.
People who used the project in its first year are estimated to have saved 600kg of CO2.
E-Move’s also been found to have had positive impacts on people’s sense of health and wellbeing.
70% of people felt healthier after borrowing and using an e-bike, and 76% of people felt their wellbeing had improved.
Real change for both people and businesses across Wales
Alongside e-bikes for individuals, E-Move also offers e-cargo bikes for businesses and community organisations.
The project has seen lots of different examples of businesses taking advantage of the free loans – a community bakery in Rhyl, a gardener in Aberystwyth, and a B&B in Powys.
A number of people who’ve taken part in the project have spoken about how it’s helped changed their travel behaviour.
Gemma, a teacher from Barry, has spoken about how borrowing an e-bike helped her gain confidence in cycling, and the impact it’s had on her family.
The Welsh Government-funded project aims to show how e-bikes can offer a real alternative method of transport in Wales. Credit: Jonathan Bewley
Continuing the work among communities across Wales
One of the latest businesses to benefit from E-Move is Rosa’s Bakery in Neath, which has been using an e-cargo bike to deliver bread to the community.
Chris Cundill, Company Director at Rosa's Bakery, said:
“This is a great way of getting our bread out to the people who maybe can’t make it to the bakery for whatever reason.
“We’re delighted that already there’s a lot of buzz around it.”
Programme Manager at Sustrans Cymru, Liz Rees said:
“We’re very happy to have received a further year of funding for E-Move.
“Since 2021, E-Move has helped people in five disadvantaged communities across Wales to access and borrow e-cycles for free.”
“This has meant people with poor public transport links, lack of access to cars, and age and health conditions have been able to travel.”
