Following on from the project's successes across other locations in Wales, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has partnered with Sustrans Cymru to bring the E-Move e-bike borrowing project to one of the South Wales valleys' most iconic towns.
People and businesses in Merthyr Tydfil will be able to borrow an e-bike for free thanks to Sustrans Cymru's project. Credit: Tom Lee.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has partnered with the UK’s leading active travel charity, Sustrans, to bring its e-bike borrowing project to Merthyr.
This initiative has been fully funded by Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), which forms part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and will commit over £2.6bn funding for local investment across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the end of March 2025.
The aim of the UK Government SPF is to support the levelling up of all parts of the UK.
Its purpose is to boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards as well as improve public services, restore sense of community and empower communities.
Bringing E-Move to Merthyr Tydfil will help businesses provide a sustainable mode of transport for their employees and, as a result, work towards reducing their carbon footprint.
The purpose of SPF funding for local businesses is to support their development and growth.
This project will also see a reduction of the traffic in our neighbourhoods, resulting in flourishing communities and thriving businesses.
People living in Merthyr Tydfil can now borrow one of 10 e-bikes for free for a loan period of four weeks, while businesses and organisations can borrow them for 12 weeks.
E-Move beneficiaries have frequently reported feeling their health and well-being improved as a result of borrowing and using an e-bike. Credit: photojB.
Giving people the chance to try a sustainable way of transport for free
Originally a pilot project funded by Welsh Government delivered in other parts of Wales, E-Move has now been rolled out to Merthyr Tydfil and its residents.
Charlie Gordon, Project Co-ordinator at Sustrans Cymru, said:
“It’s fantastic that we’re able to bring E-Move to Merthyr, this is a real hub in the south Wales valleys that will benefit from a project like this.
“E-Move gives people the chance to try an e-bike for free, gives them the freedom and space to try them out for themselves, and more often than not people become converts!
“We’re really proud to help people in Merthyr Tydfil to try a fun, sustainable, and cheap mode of transport – you can charge the batteries at home or at work and get around quickly and easily.
“E-bikes save you money on fuel, they help you exercise, they can take you further than a standard bike, and they make it so much easier to deal with hills.”
Previous E-Move users have consistently reported improvements to their fitness, to their well-being, as well as increased independence and confidence.
For more information, please contact our project officer, Steve, on 07825 659672 or by e-mail.
