Orkney Islands Council has been awarded  £23,748.00 from the Scottish Government’s eBike Grant Fund towards the purchase of 12 eBikes. A total of 27 different organisations across Scotland will benefit to the tune of £462,000 in this 2nd round of funding.

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity in the Scottish Government said:

“There are so many benefits to e-bikes and e-cargo bikes, but for many, the latest advances in e-mobility technology remain unaffordable. While we all anticipate price drops in the future, I’m committed to ensuring that people can access and experience e-bikes in their communities, so that we increase opportunities for people to switch to sustainable, affordable and exciting modes of transportation.

NHS Shetland / Shetland Community Bike Project has been awarded £8.874.00 towards 12 eBikes “to promote staff, visitors and residents to use twelve new e-bikes to commute between sites of interest, employment, and local services.”

It is hoped that increasing access to eBikes will encourage more employees to cycle instead of taking their cars to work. This is timely news given the debate over the new powers to be given to local authorities to raise revenue through charging a workplace car park tax.

Matthew Eastwood, Head of Transport at Energy Saving Trust said:

“The eBike Grant Fund supports public and third sector organisations to enable behaviour change through the increased uptake of sustainable and active travel, in the form of e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and adapted bikes.

“Applications have come from a wide range of organisations including NHS Trusts, local authorities and charities. This will help make e-bikes available to a wide audience, facilitating access to employment, education, and local services. In addition, the shift to sustainable and active travel helps reduce road transport emissions, improve local air quality and has positive health benefits.”

List of the 2nd round of successful applicants

University of Aberdeen – 12 e-bikes – £15,000
Historic Environment Scotland – 10 e-bikes – £5,315.00
Dundee City Council – 50 e-bikes – £100,000.00
Milnbank Housing Association – 9 e-bikes – £14,962
Greener Kirkcaldy – 4 e-bikes – £3,819.95
University of Glasgow – 8 e-bikes – £15,220.00
Forward Coupar Angus – 5 e-bikes – £6,897.00
Simon Community – 1 e-bike 2 e-cargo bikes –  £11,184.00
Healthy n Happy (Cambuslang) – 2 e-cargo bikes – £7,637.08
Wheatley Group – 15 e-bikes – £16,953.00
NHS Shetland – 12 e-bikes – £8.874.00
Transition St Andrews – 1 e-cargo bike – £4,900.00
Y Sort It (Clydebank) – 2 e-bikes – £2,800.00
Outfit Moray – 2 e-bikes – £2,924.02
Dunblane Community Development Trust – 1 e-bike – £2,400
McLaren Leisure (Callander) – 5 e-bikes – £7,062.00
Auchterarder Community Development Trust – 2 e-bikes  – £5,350.00
Assynt Development Trust – 18 e-bikes 1 e-cargo bike – £15,000
Orkney Council – 12 e-bikes – £23,748.00
Shotts Healthy Living – 6 e-bikes – £11,058.50
Volunteering Hebrides – 7 e-bikes – £14,695.00
Mid-Deeside Community Development Trust – 8 e-bikes – £11,916.72
Bikes for Refugees (Edinburgh) – 4 e-bikes – £12,396.00
Cycle Friendly Kingussie – 8 e-bikes – £10,300.00
Forth Valley College – 4 e-bikes – £4,646.59
University of Dundee – 10 e-bikes – £9,187.20
Transport for Edinburgh – 37 e-bikes – £118,198.00