Cllr Hawkins (centre) with Solihull Council cycling trainers and some of the bikes available to try
Solihull Council has teamed up with Peddle My Wheels to offer Solihull residents the ‘Try before you bike’ scheme. Part of the West Midlands Cycle and Walk Programme, this innovative scheme offers a flexible approach to hiring or buying a bike without the initial cost of purchasing a new bike and accessories.
Residents can hire a bike from Peddle My Wheels for £40 a month on a rolling monthly contract which includes insurance, bike lock, lights and a helmet. At any point they can opt out of the scheme and return the bike or go on to purchase it. If the bike is purchased any money paid in the hire period will be taken off the purchase price making it extremely cost-effective.
As an extra incentive, the first 25 Solihull residents who sign up have the chance to get a half price deal of just £20 a month for the first six months of the hire period, subject to the make and size they want being available.
Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Cllr Ken Hawkins, said: “Cycling is a great way to keep fit and now the days are getting longer it’s a great time to try it out. It’s also a really cheap way of travelling and good for the environment too.
“As a council we’ve invested in improving our cycle networks and providing cycle training so that people can cycle more safely across the borough, but we’re always looking for new ways to help people start their cycling journey.
“We recognise that when you first start cycling there’s an initial start-up cost so this new scheme with Peddle My Wheels will help people to see if it’s for them with a low hire charge on all the kit that you need to get in the saddle. If you decide it’s something you’d like to continue with, all the hire money paid will be deducted from the cost of the bike.”