Forth Bike users have clocked up over 83,000 miles since the electric bike scheme was launched in summer 2019 – that’s more than 3 times round the globe.
The 144 electric bike scheme has attracted over 8,000 users, who have collectively made over 18,000 journeys across Forth Valley in less than two years.
Usage has soared since the first lockdown last year – in May 2020 users travelled a mammoth 14,439 miles – and 100 key workers have taken advantage of free annual memberships to help them commute to work.
The number of stations was also boosted earlier this month, when new hire points opened in Denny, Falkirk, Grangemouth and Bo’ness; taking the total number of stations to sixteen.
Charity Forth Environment Link has been instrumental to the scheme’s success, securing funding for the project and managing its roll out across the region.
Active Travel Manager Shirley Paterson said: “It has been fantastic to see Forth Valley embrace electric biking over the course of this project. To have played a part in that scale of behaviour change and to have helped key workers out at a time when they need us most, is something that we as a local charity are immensely proud of. We’re now handing over the reins to Bewegen, the bike share firm behind Forth Bike, and can’t wait to see the scheme grow in popularity year on year.”
From 1st April, Forth Bike will be fully operated by Canadian company Bewegen.
Marie-Hélène Houle, Director of Communications and IT Development for Bewegen, said: “We are thrilled to take over the operations and management of the Forth Bike scheme. We want to thank Forth Environment Link for their trust and look forward to continuing the success of Forth Bike!”
Forth Environment Link is looking for new Trustees to join the organisation and help shape our future direction as we emerge from the last 2 years of working within a global pandemic