Oxford bike share scheme Oxonbike adds electric bikes to its fleet

The Oxford bike share scheme Oxonbike has added electric bikes to its fleet to become the first scheme in the UK to offer both types of bikes.

Oxonbike now offers 80 bikes, including 16 new electric assisted bikes, at 13 docking stations across Oxford. New docking stations are being added to the network, connecting major employment centres including hospital and university sites in Headington with the city centre and park and ride hubs, enabling business and commuter trips to be conveniently made by bike.

The scheme expansion is funded by a £34,000 grant from the Department for Transport through Bikeplus’ Shared Electric Bike Programme, with match funding of £30,000 from the University of Oxford aiming to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality through active travel.

Adam Bows, Sustainable Transport Manager at the University of Oxford said: “The addition of e-bikes to the OXONBIKE fleet will take the pain out of cycling up Headington Hill and enable more University staff to travel quickly and sustainably between the Science Area, the OUH hospital sites in Oxford and Old Road Campus.”

Antonia Roberts, Bikeplus Manager commented: “Bikeplus is keen to know what contribution shared electric bikes can make to sustainable transport, and find out what sort of people are attracted to electric bikes in different contexts, and why.”