Some 45 projects across Scotland will be given a share of over £633,000 to assist with the adoption of e-bikes as an alternative to car journeys.
Through the latest round of the Scottish government’s e-bike grant fund, delivered with Energy Saving Trust, schools, hospitals and community groups will be able to apply for funding to adopt e-bikes, adaptive bikes and e-cargo bikes.
Over £223,000 of the funding package will go toward specific projects that directly support key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Scotland’s cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson, said: “We’ve targeted some of this funding to support key and essential workers.
“As we work to build an active nation and ensure Scotland’s green recovery, I want to see more of our key workers becoming ambassadors for more sustainable travel.”
One project will see Cycling UK Scotland work with key workers including NHS staff, carers, shop workers, service providers, and local businesses in Golspie, a village and parish in Sutherland, Highland, to provide access to a new pool of eight e-bikes.
Additionally, in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Simon Community Scotland will be provided with a grant of almost £16,000 to support its outreach work in helping vulnerable people through the assistance of e-bikes.
Hugh Hill, director of services and development at Simon Community Scotland & Streetwork, said: “We were delighted to receive the support of Transport Scotland and Energy Saving Trust in providing a small fleet of e-bikes to frontline workers.
“More than ever we need to look after our mental and physical health and cycling, even powered, can absolutely do both. We hope to build on this initiative supporting, encouraging and enabling more people to take up cycling as a way of life and a means of transport.”
