Monmouthshire County Council have teamed up with Sustrans Cymru to bring the successful e-bike borrowing project, E-Move, to Abergavenny. Originally a Welsh Government pilot project delivered across Wales, Abergavenny residents will now be able to borrow an e-bike or e-cargo bike for free so they can experience the benefits for themselves.
Using an e-bike can help save money on fuel, get exercise, travel further, and deal with Wales' hills. Credit: photojB\Sustrans.
Following on from the successes of delivering E-Move across Wales, Sustrans Cymru’s e-bike borrowing project has been launched in Abergavenny.
The E-Move project, which is being funded by Monmouthshire County Council through Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund, aims to make e-bikes and e-cargo bikes more accessible to people across Wales, demonstrating their viability as a real mode of sustainable transport.
Speaking about the launch of the E-Move project in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire County Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, Cllr Catrin Maby, said:
"The E-Move project is an excellent example of how working in partnerships can make active travel more accessible to our residents.
“It's fantastic to work with Sustrans Cymru to provide e-bikes for residents to borrow."
As part of the project, residents of Abergavenny will be able to borrow an e-bike or e-cargo bike, with both types being available for a four-week loan period, for free.
Local businesses and organisations can borrow either an e-bike or an e-cargo bike at no cost for 12 weeks.
Abergavenny residents, businesses, and local organisations can now borrow an e-bike or e-cargo bike for free. Credit: photojB\Sustrans.
Bringing the advantages of travelling on e-bikes to Abergavenny
Speaking about E-Move coming to Abergavenny, Charlie Gordon, Sustrans Cymru Project Co-ordinator, said:
“We’re excited to be working with Monmouthshire County Council to bring E-Move to Abergavenny, and for people to have a chance at using an e-bike themselves for free.
“There’s a load of benefits to riding an e-bike – you save money on fuel, you get to exercise, you can travel further than on a standard push bike, they make riding up hills easier – and E-Move enables people to experience those positives for themselves, for free.
“The project is open to everyone who lives in the Abergavenny area, so we’d encourage people to get in touch to register their interest.”
After its second year of delivery across other parts of Wales, 76% of E-Move beneficiaries reported positive impacts on their health and 79% reported positive impacts on their well-being as a result of using an e-bike.
People reported they felt that their fitness improved, they experienced less isolation, and they felt more independent from having borrowed an e-bike.
Businesses and organisations borrowing e-cargo bikes saw their weekly car and van trips fall by 62%, and they reported reduced travel costs and quicker journey times.
For more information on the project or to discuss borrowing an e-bike, contact Rodri Guimerà Zarranz at rodri.gz@sustrans.org.uk.
