麻豆果冻传媒

The Electrically-Assisted Power Cycles (EAPCs) will be for hire and will be available between the university’s campus in Eastbourne and the town’s rail station.

Dr Anne Mandy, Reader Centre for Health Research and Dr Frauke Behrendt, Principal Lecturer in Media Studies, have been awarded the funding from the Department of Transport to explore the uptake of the bikes, in conjunction with Southern Railway and Eastbourne Borough Council.

University staff and students will be the key user group but members of the public will be encouraged to ride the bikes during less-busy times including weekends.

Dr Mandy said sustainability was one of the university’s core values: “The university's Travel Plan shows that 43 per cent of staff and 21 per cent of students travel to university as single drivers in their cars. The strategy is to reduce single occupancy vehicle transport by 10 per cent for staff and seven per cent for students by 2015.”

An electrically-assisted power cycle

The 20 bikes will be divided between the station and the campus, based at Hillbrow, where battery-charging and parking facilities will be available.

Users will pay £50 for six months or £80 for 12 months to participate in the scheme and the income will be re-invested to make the scheme financially sustainable. Additionally, they will pay a refundable £25 deposit for a high security key that will unlock the bike cages and storage lockers.

Users will undergo safety training which will qualify them for insurance. The year-long trial will be launched later this year.

The EAPCs have battery-powered electric motors which work when the rider is pedalling and can last for up to 60 miles. The motors help the rider go further, climb hills easier and carry heavier loads.

Earlier research into and trials of electronically-assisted ‘e-bikes’ by the university in 麻豆果冻传媒 showed they encouraged more people to cycle. Dr Behrendt said: “Shared e-bike schemes such as this new one in Eastbourne can help get more people using this active and sustainable mode of transport.”

The Eastbourne scheme is one of 11 announced this week by the Department of Transport in a bid to “help tourists, residents and workers go further by bike”. The 11 were chosen by Carplus, the non-profit environmental transport non-governmental organisation, which is investigating whether electric bikes are the answer to congestion, transport and health problems.

Some 200 new electric bikes will be put into circulation at the 11 locations around the country to “boost riders’ pedal power”.

Carplus said one in 10 bicycles sold in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland are pedal-assisted e-bikes; and bike hire schemes in many cities like Madrid and Copenhagen now have electric fleets. It wants to support increasing interest in similar schemes in the UK.

The project will investigate the potential for sharing electric bikes to help more people make door-to-door journeys on shared and public transport, reducing congestion and pollution.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “Electric bikes are a great way to encourage new people to get into cycling and today’s announcement will provide an opportunity for thousands more to enjoy the advantages they offer.

“Cycling helps cut congestion and is a healthy, affordable transport option.

“We want to double the number of journeys made by bicycle. That is why we are also investing over the next five years in cycle training and infrastructure.”

Dr Anne Mandy

Dr Frauke Behrendt