E-bike cycle scheme in Manchester fully booked with loan requests in under a week

A pilot scheme making e-bikes available for people to hire for free in Manchester has been a huge success - as all the cycles available have been loaned out in the space of a few days.

Cycling UK launched the scheme on 12 May offering people the chance to rent e-bikes for between one and three months without cost.

Mancunians looking to get out and about on two wheels have certainly responded, as a message on the Cycling UK website says it has been “inundated” with requests and there are currently no more e-bikes available for loaning.

Instead, anyone looking to take part has to fill out a form expressing interest in hiring an e-bike and join a waiting list.

What has Cycling UK said about its scheme?

Cycling UK has posted a message on the website explaining just how popular the pilot scheme, which is called Cycling made e-asy, has been in the space of a few days in Manchester.

The statement said: “The scheme was launched in Manchester on Thursday 12 May and has already proven to be hugely popular. Cycling UK has been inundated with requests for loans and all of the e-cycles we currently have available in Manchester are now out on loan.

“More e-cycles will be available in the coming weeks and in June and July the scheme will be launched in Leicester, Luton & Dunstable, Hull and Sheffield.

“Add your name to our waiting list and we will let you know when an e-cycle becomes available and keep you up to date on developments.”

Out of the five locations for the pilot Manchester was the first to start making e-cycles available to the public.

Anyone who logged on when the scheme was launched could hire e-bikes from Thursday 19 May with the two-wheeled transport available for 30, 60 or 90 days.

Those who have managed to get their hands on an e-bike will pick them up from the Evans Cycles store in Cheetham Hill, which is currently acting as the hub for the project.

E-bikes by five different manufacturers have been made available under the scheme.

Manchester City Council leader Coun Bev Craig said on social media that she would be keen to see Cycling UK roll out the scheme further and make more e-bikes available given the level of demand.