Last month we shared Lewes cyclists’ experiences of owning e-bikes. Most users proved enthusiastically positive – especially when it came to cycling longer distances, doing local commutes, keeping up with younger family members and tackling hilly terrain.
Now, Oxford Friends of the Earth have set up a national campaign to urge the Government to develop an incentive scheme to encourage adoption of electric bicycles. It says: “The government has pledged to ‘create a new era for cycling and walking’. It is also considering a plan to support car-owners to move from petrol / diesel cars to electric vehicles. This may cut carbon but does nothing for congestion or supporting walkers and cyclists. We need an incentive scheme for e-bikes as well.”
FoE Oxford is asking people to write to their MP to ask them to urge the Department for Transport to introduce a financial incentive scheme to promote e-bike use. Their template letter can be adapted here.
Schemes to support e-bikes have been adopted in countries including Austria, France, and Sweden, and the Channel Islands. A July 2019 report for the Bicycle Association found that about half of all trips by e-bike substitute a journey that otherwise would have been by car, making them potentially highly effective in reducing carbon, pollution and congestion.
Hello and great to hear that the use of e-bikes and bikes, in general, attract more attention now, in Britain. I’ve bought an e-bike, after finding the hills in Devon inconquerable almost, on a pushbike.
I’m almost 70 years of age now. Since the start of the pandemic, I’ve returned to my home in The Netherlands, for a break of a year. With my e-bike! Zzzzooof, here I go! All flat here, what a relief!
We call an e-bike “Ride with the wind in your back-bike”, for here we’re dealing with wind, not hills. Therefore, The Netherlands are creating many cycle tracks and wide cycle-paths in cities, encouraging the use of bikes.
Also, it’s a necessary measure to chase car-drivers out of their car and use the bike. This country is too crowded and full almost. I’m pleased to hear about more freedom for cyclists in Sussex, for I may choose to find a home in that county, near the sea!
It’s why I love to receive the TTL newsletter, for years now. I’ve visited Lewes about 15 years ago and remember what I’ve visited with fondness. Especially that castle! And the statue with the lady holding that wreath in her hand, high up in Lewes town.
Keep on trucking on the cycle tracks, it must be special to ride along the coast of Sussex.