The Big Issue is launching a new electric bike rental scheme to create new jobs - how it will work

Street newspaper organisation The Big Issue is set to launch an electric bike rental scheme, which will help to create new jobs.

The organisation has joined together with Norwegian company ShareBike, in order to launch a new scheme aimed at helping to keep people in work and in their homes.

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Sustainable travel and supporting people back into work

The scheme hopes to provide sustainable travel, alongside supporting unemployed or vulnerable people back into skilled work.

The new electric bike rental scheme is part of The Big Issue’s Ride Out Recession Alliance (RORA) - which aims to help keep people in work and in their homes during the recession - and will be run by people who were previously unemployed.

The new initiative will be rolled out across the UK in the new year.

Founder of The Big Issue, Lord Bird, recently tried out one of the eBikes in his home city of Cambridge, in a bid to call on both councils and local businesses to take up the scheme.

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Lord Bird said, “We are living through some dark times, with predictions that hundreds of thousands of people could lose their jobs and be made homeless.

“It’s been wonderful to come together with a like-minded organisation with a truly innovative venture that offers hope to those facing great adversity due to Covid-related poverty.

“We are confident that The Big Issue eBikes scheme will recruit and retrain unemployed and vulnerable people in local communities and provide them with access to support and services to improve their lives.”

Jan Tore Endresen, chief executive of ShareBike, said, “In our partnership with The Big Issue, ShareBike sees a unique opportunity to help people whilst providing sustainable mobility.

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“With more than 20 years’ experience in global bike sharing we have ensured that Big Issue eBikes offer a comfortable and convenient alternative to fossil fuel-based transportation, as well as providing an affordable mode of travelling around cities in the UK.”

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