Isle of Wight Unveils First Ever E-Bike School Share Scheme
The Isle of Wight has rolled out its first electric bike share scheme — and it’s already making waves in Newport. A trio of sleek e-bikes are now zipping between Carisbrooke College, Medina College, and the VI Form Campus, offering school staff a greener, quicker way to travel.
Goodbye Cars, Hello E-Bikes
Wight Cycle Hire Ltd teamed up with the Isle of Wight Education Federation (IWEF) and Isle of Wight Council to launch the project. The goal? Swap car journeys for electric rides and slash local congestion and carbon emissions.
Currently, almost 40% of staff regularly travel between Medina College and the VI Form Campus — but a whopping 97% use private cars. The new scheme hopes to cut up to 4,000 car journeys annually. Talk about a boost for the environment!
Backed by Big Funding
The project benefits from the Isle of Wight Council’s Sustainable Travel Access Fund, backed by the Department for Transport. This funding supports a wide range of eco-friendly transport initiatives aiming to reshape how islanders move around.
Staff on Board and Buzzing
“We’re thrilled to back the Island’s first electric bike share scheme. It’s tailored to meet staff needs and make commuting easier and greener,” said Ross Edmunds, schools project manager at Wight Cycle Hire Ltd.
“This scheme will be popular with staff. It helps cut our carbon footprint, supports wellbeing, and might even speed up trips between campuses,” added Matthew Parr-Burman, executive headteacher of Carisbrooke College and Isle of Wight 1 Federation.
For more details on sustainable school travel projects, contact [email protected].
