Wera Hobhouse, Bath’s MP has helped launch Transition Bath’s new cycling to work scheme. The scheme aims to encourage people who currently commute to work in Bath by car to switch to commuting by bicycle.
The Ride to Work by Bike project (www.ridetowork.bike) aims to encourage commuters in Bath to switch to cycling to work in preference to commuting short distances by car. The focus of this initiative is electric bikes (ebikes) in order to reduce the barriers to people who are put off cycling by Bath’s hilly terrain, or consider themselves too unfit – or too old even – to commute by bicycle.
The project targets a single workplace at a time. Each workplace will be loaned – for free – bicycles for up to 10 employees who currently drive to work (about 10 miles or under), for a period of 6 weeks. Comprehensive support will be given to help participants fully experience the benefits of cycling to work, and maximise the chances of them making the switch permanent.
The objectives of this project are to:
- Reduce pollution and congestion
- Improve participants’ health
- Prove that small-scale, low-cost sustainable transport schemes can be successful and cost-effective
- We are currently researching how best to run the scheme and identifying partners who can work with us.
The scheme was launched on Tuesday 24th September 2019 by Wera Hobhouse, MP at Julian House Bike Workshop on Corn Street. Julian House are partnering with Transition Bath, providing service and support for the participants and the electric bikes. Employees from Curo will be the first participants of the scheme and will be using the scheme’s electric bikes to commute for work this Autumn.
We are looking for additional workplaces (companies, businesses, public sector organisations, schools etc.) to be included in this free scheme during the summer of 2020 – if you think your workplace might be interested, please get in contact with us info@ridetowork.bike .
Transition Bath would like to thank Bath & West Community Energy and the National Heritage Lottery Awards for All funds for providing grant funding to support the scheme.
Further information is available on the scheme’s website: www.ridetowork.bike . If you would like to know more, please contact us via email: info@ridetowork.bike.