Transport Scotland-backed initiative to boost accessibility to bikes in Glasgow
A PIONEERING new scheme has been launched with a view to transforming access to bikes, e-bikes and e-Cargo bikes in Glasgow.
SWITCH UP has officially rolled out in the city, providing locals with access to bicycles, comprehensive on-road cycling training, theft insurance, maintenance service and 48-hour mobile repairs for a single monthly fee.
Backed by funding from Transport Scotland, the innovative offering is hoping to urban travel by providing a flexible and affordable approach to bike ownership, while furthering its mission of making cycling an integral part of everyday life.
The new service is the first of its kind in Scotland and will provide access to bicycles to low-income individuals, allocating part of its total fleet to those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The scheme is run by Bike for Good, a renowned Glasgow charity and social enterprise in the city that repairs bikes and sells refurbished donated bikes from two hubs in the city.
Founder and CEO of Bike for Good, Gregory Kinsman-Chauvet, said: “Cycling is the most effective and sustainable form of urban transport. A bike subscription service is a way to remove barriers that prevent more people from cycling.
“Our goal is for other cities to recognize that by having a bike subscription service like SWITCH UP, they can provide sustainable and affordable transport options to its population.
Users will have an account through a dedicated website, allowing them to call out mobile repairs any time within five miles of the city centre and manage their subscriptions with ease.
Gregory added: “SWITCH UP isn’t just a bike subscription service but offers additional benefits that we hope will help people to become confident cyclists and be more prepared on the roads.”
In tandem with the service, SWITCH UP selected Velogik as its maintenance partner, which manages Europe’s largest e-bike fleet, while sourcing their bicycles from Raleigh, one of the oldest bike manufacturers in the world.
With prices starting for a standard bike at £24 per month, and E-bikes and cargo bikes priced at £59 and £99 respectively, with people on low-incomes benefitting from 50% off.
Bike for Good is a Glasgow-based charity that sell and service refurbished bikes, hosts cycling classes, provides cycle training, and delivers community programmes with the aim to promote cycling as a means of improving health and reducing environmental impact.
To find out more about SWITCH UP, visit: https://switchupbikes.org.uk/
