Transition Stroud and The Bike Drop are working together to launch three e-bike loan pilot projects across Stroud district, in collaboration with local Climate Action Networks, community groups and cycling enthusiasts.

The pilots will see the establishment of e-bike loan hubs run by local communities, enabling people to loan out bikes at affordable rates to decide whether they would like to make the switch from car to e-bike.

Transition Stroud's Jess Farr said: "After a lot of hard work and planning by a huge number of people, we're delighted to announce our community partners for our new e-bike loan pilot projects, due to be launched next month in time for the summer cycling season.

"Volunteers from Stonehouse Town Council, Minchinhampton Community Hub, MinchCAN, BisCAN, ChalCAN and Brimscombe and Thrupp Parish Council are all supporting Transition Stroud and The Bike Drop to open up loan hubs in Stonehouse, Minchinhampton and Brimscombe for their local communities.

"E-bikes are a great, healthy way of getting around that are also good for our shared environment. They are really well suited to Stroud district's hilly terrain and these pilots will offer more people the opportunity to find out for themselves how useful and versatile they can be.

"Over the next few weeks, we'll be training up our community volunteers, testing out our online booking system, and getting ready for our first bookings in April. We're open for enquiries already - just email us on admin@transitionstroud.org with your details, and we'll let you know as soon as bookings are open."

The team at The Bike Drop had a clear rationale for becoming a key partner in the scheme: to make e-bikes more accessible for people.

The Bike Drop's Pascale Pretty said: "We want to see more people using bikes for pleasure and transport, and all the social, health, climate and wellbeing benefits that go with that. So we're always looking for new ways to help and support cyclists and would-be cyclists.

"As a community-centred bike shop, we've listened to customers, colleagues, friends and fellow cyclists enthusing about using their e-bikes in Stroud and many people mentioning that they would love to try one out.

"An e-bike is a big investment for most people, and a cargo e-bike even more so, especially once accessories such as good racks, panniers and child seats are considered."

As e-bikes are relatively new, there are very few good-quality second-hand models around, meaning the 'buy in' is big, added Pascale.

"The possibility to borrow a bike for a week or two enables someone to try it out in all the various circumstances that they might want to use it for: a weekly shop, a daily commute, a morning childcare drop-off, a weekend outing. This is not possible with the 'trials' that most bike shops offer of a few hours, or a day

"Confidence builds over multiple uses, and only after this can someone really know whether an e-bike is a lifestyle gamechanger. We hope so!"

There will be a reservation deposit of £10 a day for the e-bikes, refundable upon their safe return, and a recommended donation of £10 to £50, depending on the duration of hire. Loans are available from one day to two weeks, and all e-bikes will come with full security and safety equipment for the cyclist and any extra passengers.

E-bikes will be ready to pick-up and return to community hubs located in Stonehouse, Minchinhampton and Brimscombe.

Jess Farr added: "We're enormously grateful to everyone who's been involved so far, including all our support partners, community members such as Maria Ardley, and the team at The Bike Drop. We hope this project will make it easier for the people of Stroud to try for themselves a method of transport that trumps most others when it comes to sustainability!"

The project has been funded by Stroud District Council's Active Travel fund, Transition Together, Brimscombe and Thrupp Parish Council and Stonehouse Town Council and aims to reduce the number of short car journeys in the area. Transition Stroud has also successfully applied to the Rural England Prosperity Fund to help expand the scheme, with a plan to open more hub locations through the year.

Stroud District Council environment committee chair Chloe Turner said: "Electric bikes are a great way to get around, particularly in Stroud district, but there are cost implications, so a scheme which makes it easier to access them is very welcome.

"As a council we have committed £500,000 to cycling and walking projects around the district and this £20,000 awarded to Transition Stroud will help implement the community electric bike scheme. I wish the scheme every success."

Harry Mckeown of The Bike Drop CIC said: "Electric cargo bikes are revolutionising what can be transported by bike on a daily basis while making people feel better; they are kinder to the planet and help to build better communities, with more bikes on the roads and fewer cars and vans.

"The big sticking point for most people is the price. We want to enable people to try an electric cargo bike to see if it really could fit in with individuals day to day, or just enable people to use them short term. The electric bikes on this scheme are incredibly capable and easy to use, enabling routines such as the school run with two kids or the weekly shop to be done by bike!"