Transport Scotland has announced it will provide £900,000 to encourage the uptake of e-bikes across Scotland.
Local authorities, public sector agencies, community groups and further and higher education institutions can now apply for grants to adopt e-bikes, adaptive bikes and e-cargo bikes as an alternative to car journeys.
For the first time, the eBike Grant Fund, delivered by Energy Saving Trust, will also launch a Business e-cargo project to offer businesses the chance of a free trial of an e-cargo bike for a 12-month period.
This will allow Transport Scotland and Energy Saving Trust to gather new data on the potential for e-cargo bikes to address business needs.
In addition, as a response to the Covid-19 crisis, Energy Saving Trust is offering previously funded e-bike grantees the chance to apply for a further £20,000 funding award for e-bikes for projects that support Scotland’s key and essential workers.
Across three previous rounds of funding over £1.9m has been allocated to 104 projects, equating to 875 e-bikes and 41 e-cargo bikes provided to organisations and communities across the country.
Scotland’s cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson, said: “I’m pleased that we can again fund the eBike Grant Fund in 2020.
“Through previous rounds of funding we have witnessed what is possible when people are provided with the financial means to replace single occupancy car journeys with a more sustainable alternative through e-bikes.
“With this new round of funding we hope to provide those same benefits to more organisations and better learn how e-cargo bikes can meet their needs whilst improving Scotland’s air quality, health and sense of well-being.
“The increase in the numbers of people walking and cycling across Scotland during lockdown is extremely encouraging and we will continue to provide support to develop an active nation.”
Read more from CiTTi
CiTTi Webinar: How to facilitate active travel schemes in urban areas
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/ebiketricity-launches-e-bike-docking-station/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/e-bikes-could-halve-transport-emissions/
