Fort William, Aviemore and Grantown to pilot new e-bike hire project

Residents in Fort William, Aviemore and Grantown are being given the chance to hire electric bikes to improve their fitness, mobility and ability to get about their rural communities more easily in a pilot scheme promoted by HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands.

HITRANS has worked in partnership with three local businesses who have volunteered to deliver the pilots as part of European-funded research projects. There will be 6 bikes in each of the participating shops for local residents and tourists to hire and try out a different way of getting around or simply getting fitter.

These outlets are: – Basecamp Bikes, Grantown on Spey; Mike’s Bikes, Aviemore; Nevis Cycles, Fort William.

Highland Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of HITRANS, said: “It’s so great to see HITRANS partnering with volunteer local businesses to deliver these pilot projects that will hopefully encourage more people to try out an e-bike and potentially opt for a more sustainable way to move around the local areas for certain journeys in the future. I’m excited to take an e-bike out for a try. Cycling is one of our most effective, healthy and environmentally friendly forms of transport, and we work closely with many partners to encourage active travel in our area and hopefully these e-bikes can.”

The e-bike scheme has been funded by Scottish Government’s e-bike grant scheme delivered by Energy Saving Trust and Paths for All have provided marketing funding support to promote the EU Interreg and Horizon 2020 pilot projects.