E-Move was an electric cycle loan scheme for people living in Aberystwyth, Rhyl, Barry, Swansea, Newtown and their surrounding areas that run from 2020 until 2024. The pilot scheme helped people who may have found the cost of e-bikes a barrier to using them. E-Move offered a healthy, sustainable and affordable way to travel.
The E-Move project aimed to help residents in many areas of Wales start travelling actively and sustainably. ©photojB
This project was funded by the Welsh Government.
This pilot scheme offered individuals a four-week loan of an e-bike.
It was for people living in Aberystwyth, Swansea, Barry, Rhyl, Newtown and the surrounding areas of these cities and towns.
The loan scheme was free of charge, and 20 e-bikes were available at each location.
Electric cargo bikes were also available to businesses and organisations in Aberystwyth, Swansea and Newtown for up to three months.
Replacing trips by car and van
E-Move aimed to reduce carbon emissions by replacing some of the journeys usually made by car.
E-cargo bikes were available to businesses and organisations, which also helped to reduce the emissions caused by delivering goods to your door.
By offering alternative means of transport, this project aimed to improve local air quality.
Keeping motivated to move
Electric bikes can reach speeds of up to 15.5 mph.
They can help you tackle hilly terrain, carry loads, and go for longer cycling trips.
E-Move's collection of e-bikes had panniers, stowage trays and seats to carry children of various ages.
They help to make active travel fun, helping us stay motivated to move.
Helping businesses and organisations with e-cargo bikes
Using e-cargo bikes to move goods around can reduce operating costs for organisations.
This approach creates an opportunity for positive publicity and can be a great way of engaging customers from the surrounding community.
In congested areas, e-cargo bikes are often a faster way to move loads.
They're more flexible, convenient and environmentally-friendly than using a van.
E-cargo bikes are a great alternative to vans for moving goods within towns and cities.
Inspiring businesses and organisations to act
Through the E-Move project, we supported businesses and organisations to trial the use of e-cargo bikes.
We wanted to see organisations taking up this opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and localised air pollution.
We helped them develop the skills to use e-cargo bikes, and to learn about the benefits and impacts of using various bikes for their services.
Interested in loaning an e-bike?
We invited people in Aberystwyth, Rhyl, Barry, Swansea, Newtown and the surrounding areas to loan an e-bike.
Businesses and organisations in and around Swansea and Aberystwyth were eligible for loan of an e-cargo bike.
You needed to complete a survey before and after the loan.
You may also have been asked to undertake a 30-45 minute research interview.
This will have helped us to understand people’s experience of using an e-bike.
The survey will have looked at the challenges of using one, and how people, organisations and places can benefit from e-bikes.
The outcome of this project will help us develop recommendations for future e-bike initiatives.
Check if you're eligible to loan
To have been eligible, you would have needed to be over 18 years of age and able to cycle safely, a resident of an area within Rhyl, Swansea, Newtown, or Barry, and either:
- living in an area listed in the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (in a project location) as one of the 10-50% most deprived wards in Wales. You can check your postcode on their website;
- living in a rural place near an E-Move location that can be reached by e-bike with the intention of replacing car trips, or;
- living in a hilly location near an E-Move location that can be reached by e-bike with the intention of replacing car trips.
Businesses and organisations operating in Swansea or Aberystwyth were invited to apply to loan an e-cargo bike by contacting the relevant officer.
If you think you might not be able to cycle, or if you have not ridden in many years, then we encourage you to get training before the loan begins through an accredited local provider.
Get in touch
Please note that the pilot project came to an end in March 2024, and that it is no longer active in Aberystwyth, Barry, Newtown, Rhyl or Swansea.
If you are an interested in discussing the project or have an interest in bringing a project like E-Move to your area, please contact us at sustranscymru@sustrans.org.uk.
The application process
Our project officers will have provided you with an application form and will have checked if you were eligible for the scheme.
You would have received information about the scheme and what e-bikes we had available.
You would also have received a survey and loan agreement to complete.
We would have arranged a date for you to collect an e-bike and received an induction where you would have been shown how to use it and to get comfortable using it.
Depending on demand for the e-bikes, you may have been held on a waiting list until one became available.
Get in touch with one of our team now if you're interested in learning more about the impact of E-Move.
Find out why you should try an e-bike.
