Chance for the business community to get on their bikes

ELECTRIC bikes aimed at being used by the business community have been launched in Yorkshire.

The idea has been created by Otley-based ebikehire.com and is believed to be the first of its kind in the region. It comes as the government announced plans to inject £77m into a Cycle City initiative. Yorkshire is set to receive just under £30m – the second highest funding in the UK – with a 14 mile cycle highway planned from east Leeds to Bradford city centre.

ebikehire.com, which was set up last year, has signed up to the tax-free national initiative, bike2work, to encourage employees to leave their cars at home. Under the scheme, businesses are encouraged to buy bikes tax free for employees in exchange for a salary deduction of the price over a period of 18 months.   

Lee Robinson, who owns e-bikehire.com with Ian Morton, said: “With electric bikes costing just a few pence to travel around 40 miles, they are a green and economical option for employees commuting to work.

“E-bikes remove all the normal barriers to ordinary cycling to work, such as tackling hills and arriving at work needing a shower, with the option of reverting to pedal power for the flat. 

“Cycling in Yorkshire is riding high with the Grand Yorkshire Depart in 2014 and the news about a multi-million pound investment in the region’s city cycle paths should encourage commuters to ditch their cars  and get on their bikes.”

Leeds-based Simon Young, managing partner of Aysgarth Accountants, has trialled an electric bike. He said: “Electric bikes make the bike2work scheme even more of an attractive initiative for people who aren’t necessarily super fit cyclists.  These bikes are perfect for city workers fed up of traffic congestion, high fuel charges and parking costs.”

Harrogate-based Jill Beecroft, a distributor of Nu Skin, added: “Electric bikes are great for travelling round to business meetings and enjoying the scenery. Employers can also take advantage of the brilliant bike2work tax free scheme to promote a healthier work/life balance for their staff – a win-win all round.”

Electric bikes can travel at a consistent 15 mph for around 40 miles per battery charge, at a cost of between 3p and 7p. Bikes are re-charged by simply plugging into an ordinary power socket.