Gloucestershire youngsters can now benefit from a new pilot electric mountain bike scheme being set up by GRCC to help 14-19 year olds access full time education.

The scheme, funded by Gloucestershire Education Transport Partnership at the County Council, aims to increase access to full time learning for teenagers in Gloucestershire who may be finding it difficult when transport is unavailable/difficult or for those financially disadvantaged.

Those who will benefit from the scheme are:

• 14-16 year olds not eligible by law for provisional licences
• anyone aged 14-19 where college timetables might vary in location or timing
• those living more than four miles from college or living in or near urban centres experiencing difficulties with transport

Four bikes, supplied by Urban Mover of Cheltenham, will be purchased and fully insured for the pilot period and the successful recipients will be provided with basic training on the use of the bikes. Grant aid is also available towards safety equipment based on individual circumstances.

Frank Scriven, JumpStart Project Manager at GRCC said, “We are very excited about the introduction of electric mountain bikes to our existing transport projects here at GRCC. This additional scheme will increase the flexibility of travel over shorter distances and hopefully help those students who are not able to obtain provisional licences.”

For further information on this scheme and to find out if you might be eligible, please contact Frank Scriven at GRCC on 01452 528491.

Click here to read a press article on the scheme (reproduced with kind permission from Gloucestershire Echo).