Barrhead's Electronic Bike Loan Scheme builds momentum

Include Me 2 Club’s Electronic Bike Loan Scheme kicked off at its Bike Hub in Cowan Park in May and by the middle of December had loaned out more than 40 electric bikes for one month at a time.

The project allows people to borrow one of a fleet of ten fully-equipped step-through electric bikes and cargos bike for just £40 a month, a price which covers monthly insurance against issues such as theft or damage.

The aim is to allow people to try the device for a short time to see whether it works for them and their daily lives and make an active choice for travelling versus constantly making car journeys.

Steven Rutherford and Stefan Sikora (Bike Hub trainee) (Image: Newsquest)

Steven Rutherford, the manager of the Bike Hub, told the Barrhead News: “People maybe don’t want to go out and spend thousands on a bike, so it gives them a chance to say rather than me spending the money maybe I could try this first and see if it will work for me or not.

“Everyone who has come and loaned a bike from us has been really positive.

“We spend time going through the bike with people so they understand how to charge it and how to use it and we do short ride with them around park.

“They go away and we know that chances are they are going to use it.”

The loans are made with everything people need to ride - full mudguards, lights and racks, a winter reflective jacket, helmet, and a heavy-duty lock.

And, as Steven explains, the bikes and particularly the two cargo bikes in the fleet, can be used for a wide variety of purposes, be it commuting, commercial purposes, leisure or daily errands such as shopping.

“The cargo bikes can carry up to 420 litres of goods with various resources and straps and other things,” he explained.

“People use them for all sorts of purposes and jobs, people carry ladders on them and all sorts of sound equipment and other things to and from places.”

One of those who has made use of the scheme is Carol McCarthy, who initially loaned a bike in October for four weeks.

She used it to go from her home in East Renfrewshire to her work in Carntyne because her car was in the garage, praising the tough stuff it was made from after it took some beating through Glasgow’s potholes.

The Giffnock resident reported to the Bike Hub that it had “changed her outlook, her mental health and wellbeing” by using it daily and not sitting in traffic, allowing her to “feel fitter and more focused.”

“I was very sad when I had to take it back, but they let me hire it for another four weeks,” she explained.

“They would have let me hire it longer but I purchased a bike through the cycle to work scheme.

“I'd tried an electric bike before for a few minutes at Rouken Glen Park years ago and I'd done an afternoon of e-mountain biking with my friends in Dunkeld which was great fun.

“I previously drove to work. The best thing for me is getting exercise and not sitting in traffic jams.”

“The bike really makes cycling as easy as you want. Give it a go,” she added.

Carol, however, Steven says is not alone in her positive experience and anyone who has loaned a bike can share very similar story.

"The biggest thing that people (who have hired ) say is about their mental health,” he said.

“It’s improved their mental health being out in the fresh air.

“It gets you fitter and healthier. Even though it is an electric bike you still have to pedal it but if you are going up a big hill then it helps you get up there.”

The Bike Hub will resume its winter opening hours (open every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays) from Sunday, January 7 when it will be open from 9am 3pm.

To find out more about the the scheme and what the Bike Hub has to offer, click HERE or pop in to visit.