People in Hull will now have the opportunity to use an electric bike as part of plans to encourage cycling in the city.
Six new electric bikes will be available to loan from the cycle hubs in Trinity Market and The University of Hull, both operated by charity R-evolution.
E-bikes use electrical power to make pedalling easier, which is especially useful when travelling longer distances or uphill. And from Wednesday 23 March, three bikes will be available at the market, and three at the university.
Earlier this year research published by campaign group Bike Is Best and the University of Westminster’s Active Travel Academy showed that boosting mass e-bike use could deliver more than £2bn in health benefits and cut a million tonnes of emissions annually.
Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council said: “We’re delighted to be expanding the range of bikes available for people to hire and understand how crucial it is to level up our offer in order to encourage people to cycle more.
“The price for hire is considerably cheaper than other cities in a bid to make the electric bikes more accessible for everyone and can be interchanged between both of the cycle hubs at Hull University and Trinity Market.”
The electric bikes will be available to loan for just £20 a day or £100 for the week, with a £100 refundable deposit.
John Marshall MBE, CEO at R-evolution, said: “We are really excited to introduce this offering to the people of Hull and help facilitate a service that our city has yet to offer to the public.
“R-evolution have a reputation for recycling older bikes and bringing them back into use however, this new service enables us to connect our customers with the future of cycling and try out an e-bike whether to ‘try before you buy’ or help people who need a little assistance to cycle. Our partnership with Hull City Council and Hull University is helping to connect the city centre with the campus and assist carbon net zero targets.”
Paul Riley, Assistant Director of Estates (Development) at the University of Hull, said: “Encouraging students and staff to consider sustainable forms of transport when travelling to and from the University is an important part of our vision to become a carbon neutral campus by 2027.
“Building on the strong partnership we already have with R-evolution and Hull City Council, and the recent opening of our new cycle hire hub on campus, we are delighted to be able to expand our offering to include e-bikes.
“Students and staff can take advantage of the upgraded cycling infrastructure across the city and explore some of Hull’s best-loved and hidden spots in a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly way.”
The bikes are being jointly funded by Hull City Council, R-evolution and The University of Hull and can be booked in advance by calling 01482 844422.
