RHYL has been selected to be one of four towns in one of four pilot schemes to encourage the use of electric bikes.

The Welsh Government is funding the two year scheme to encourage the use of e bikes. The move is part of efforts to create a greener and more convenient transport network. International examples have shown that e bikes are a practical alternative to the car for some people.

The pilot schemes will see four e-bike hubs established in Rhyl, Swansea, Aberystwyth (with links to Newtown) and Barry. They will offer low cost hire and long-term loan of e-bikes for local residents.

Lee Waters, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, said: “We want to give people more options of how to get around, and in particular we want to make greener forms of transport more convenient and accessible. Sustainable travel requires a culture change and the pilots are another step towards delivering our goal. There is a strong link between e-bikes and active travel as more people get used to being on bikes. There are also specific benefits in rural communities where longer distances are more common, with e bikes making cycling viable for more people.”

Christine Boston, Director, Sustrans Cymru said: “We are thrilled to be delivering this project, e bikes have the potential to transform the way people think about active travel. By working directly with communities, we will gather valuable feedback including journey patterns, barriers and network development needs.