Banbury woman embraces new healthy transport alternative following council e-bike trial
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When 36-year-old Banbury resident Katey Humphris signed up for the pilot e-bike scheme the council ran, she didn’t expect big results due to her already active lifestyle.
However, once she joined the six-week scheme Cherwell ran in partnership with British Cycling, she made a permanent, healthier, and more environmentally friendly change.
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Hide AdKatey said: "When I was asked to participate in the trial, I was excited as I had never used an e-bike before, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed using the bike. I wasn’t sure how much I’d actually use it in my day-to-day life, but I ended up using it more than I thought.
"It was brilliant to have an alternative option to using my car. I loved having a healthier transport option that allowed me to do journeys that were a bit too long on a traditional bike. Not only did it help me easily fit in extra exercise, but it also helped me save money on fuel. I didn’t think my financial health would also improve!"
Since participating in the scheme, Katey has gone on to purchase her own e-bike, which she uses for most of her day-to-day routines.
She said: "Having the option to jump onto the ebike instead of taking my car made things much more enjoyable, and being able to cycle and take in the fresh air was a nice way to break up often boring car journeys while making me feel good about improving my environmental footprint."
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Hide AdCllr Phil Chapman, portfolio holder for healthy and safe communities, said: "It is brilliant to see the council’s pilot scheme having such a positive impact over the six weeks it was run. Katey’s experience clearly highlights the physical and mental health and even monetary benefits that having access to e-bikes can provide.
"These type of innovative approaches to working with partners and the community is something that we are proud to use when looking at ways to support residents in their health journeys."