Picture shows Christine and Ruth of Thrifty One taking delivery of the new e-bike from Neil Tuer of Alyth Cycles.
Alythians can now try out an ‘e-bike’ (a bicycle with an electric motor) without the expense of buying one for themselves, thanks to Thrifty One and Alyth Development Trust.
Thrifty One has purchased an e-bike using a grant from ADT’s Community Projects Fund, and plans to add a second machine in due course, depending on uptake and extra funding. The bike was supplied by Alyth Cycles, who will store and maintain it.
It will be made available from April onwards, subject to the easing of pandemic restrictions, free of charge for up to a day at a time to anyone wanting to try out cycling as an alternative means of transport. Thrifty One hopes it will encourage new-comers and returnees to cycling to explore Alyth and its surrounding area either on their own or as part of one of the local cycling groups such as ‘Alyth Coffee Cycle’ every Wednesday (currently suspended due to the pandemic).
Ruth Brown of Thrifty One explained: “Cycling benefits both mental and physical health through exercise, and by helping create a connection with the environment it also improves quality of life. We hope that easy access to a community bike will encourage an awareness that bikes are a good alternative to cars for short journeys. An increase in cycling is beneficial to our community, being both environmentally friendly & sustainable.”
ADT’s Community Projects Fund (CPF) distributes money from the community benefit funds donated to Alyth by Temporis Ltd, who operate the windfarm just northeast of the town. ADT is currently inviting applications for funding up to £2,000 before the deadline of 21 March. Applications are assessed and awarded by an independent Community Panel in accordance with ADT’s aims and objectives. Find out more and connect to the application form here. If you have a big idea but need funding to turn it into a reality, don’t delay and get your application in today!