Electric bike appoint barrage in hills town
Visitors to Shropshire’s Little Switzerland will soon be able hop on an electric bicycle to explore the hills under a new scheme – the first of its kind in the county.
After months of planning, Stretton Climate Care is launching Shropshire’s first electric bike hire project.
The purpose behind the initiative is to encourage greater use of bikes as a mode of local transport and reduce carbon emissions.
The group won a grant from South Shropshire District Council enabling it to buy four Kalkhoff Agattu electric bikes.
The bikes are now available for hire from Central Garage opposite the railway station in Church Stretton.
The Strettons area features many steep hills and the Climate Care team said electric bikes were an ideal way to encourage both residents and tourists to leave the car behind when shopping or exploring the Shropshire Hills and countryside.
Residents and visitors can try the bikes out for annihilation up to a few days.
With lithium batteries which give a average of 30 miles cycling for just a few pence of recharging,the bikes are lightweight. When busy out they appear complete with panniers, assurance jacket, padlock and helmet.
Like an ordinary push bike, but the powerful motor takes much of the strain away from the cyclist,the technology is “pedal assist” making the bikes easy to ride.
Jon Cooke, of Stretton Climate Care, said: “We are captivated to anatomy this affiliation with John Mackenzie at Central Garage and achievement this action will animate added bodies to hop on a bike for bounded journeys.
“As a further incentive to encourage this form of transport, The National Trust are offering a voucher for free refreshment for anyone arriving at the Pavilion Tea Rooms on one of the bikes, for a limited period.”
Anyone over 14 can ride an electric bike. No road tax or parking fees are involved and running costs are minimal. For added capacity aces up a advertisement at the garage, Church Stretton Library or anywhere that Climate Care’s chargeless home activity check-up cards are found.
