At the SOW meeting on 26 April, Sean Moroney, Oakington resident and co-founder of Cambridge Electric Transport, explained how the company had gone from selling e-bikes to providing them as a service to businesses and now local communities – so far, Teversham, Hardwick, Abington and Northstowe. People in these communities can use the bikes occasionally or regularly, at low cost, as a sustainable alternative to driving

Unlike “commercial” schemes like Voi, the bikes have to be returned to their shelters/lockers (so aren’t left out in the open) but you can use the bike all day, and are only charged for the riding time (at 50p an hour) not for the time it’s parked. The bikes are step-through so easy access (no crossbar), have panniers, and have 6 derailleur gears and three levels of power assist so you can choose how much exercise to get yourself. The bikes have a solar panel to charge the lock battery; the bike battery charge is good for 25-30 miles.

The bikes are insured and if you get a puncture, CET will come and fix it (and sometimes rescue stranded riders as well!)

The purchase, installation and first year’s running costs £4000 but it’s possible to apply for an SCDC Zero Carbon Communities grant. A central location would have to be found for the lockers. Because of the very low user charge, running the bikes for subsequent years costs £1200. In Teversham the Parish Council funded this.

It was suggested we canvass opinion on our Village Day stall to find out if there would be enough demand to pursue an e-bike scheme for Oakington & Westwick.

Sean also told us about their “citipod” project. “Citipods” are like four-wheeled electric bikes, with a roof but no sides, and low and narrow so they can use cycle lanes without getting in the way of other cyclists. They are building a prototype of the cargo version; versions which can carry two child or one adult passengers are also proposed. Sean may bring one to Village Day. They may be especially useful to older people who find a normal bike off-putting. In the UK 1.2% of over-60s ride a bike, compared to 23% in Holland.

Some of us had a go at riding the electric bike!