February 5, 2022 - The Big Issue Group, led by an award-winning publication with a mission to end poverty, in partnership with ShareBike, a Norwegian micromobility company, has launched a national eBikes scheme in Bristol with a wider-UK rollout to follow.
The first of its kind, the scheme will be launched with a £450,000 investment from City Funds, a Bristol-based impact investment fund run by Bristol & Bath Regional Capital (BBRC).
The Big Issue eBikes scheme will boost green employment opportunities and transport options in smaller cities and towns across the UK by recruiting and retraining unemployed and vulnerable people in local communities and providing them with access to support and services to improve their lives. All employees will be paid a living wage.
With around 500 e-bikes to kick off the program, Big Issue eBikes will also directly benefit Bristol’s Clean Air Plan. The estimated benefit for Bristol is to see a direct reduction of 1,900 car trips a day – over 80% of Bristol’s pollution has been shown to be from local traffic sources.
The monthly subscription is £19.95/month for unlimited rides up to 10 minutes per ride and then charged at 20p per minute to a maximum of £12 a day. The subscription can be cancelled at any time without penalty. The bikes can also be hired via the Big Issue eBike App, and the locations of the bikes can be found via the app.
The Big Issue and ShareBike are calling local businesses to take up the scheme in order to provide ethical and sustainable ways for people to travel and support unemployed or vulnerable people back into skilled work.
Businesses interested in the scheme can visit www.bigissue.bike to find out how they can set up an eBike scheme in their local community.
Read more about the new Big Issue eBike Scheme here and here.
