Power bike trials get going

The University of Brighton has been awarded more than £36,000 to trial a fleet of 20 power bikes.

The Electrically-Assisted Power Cycles (EAPCs) will be for hire and will be available between the university’s campus in Eastbourne and the town’s railway station.

Dr Anne Mandy, Reader Centre for Health Research and Dr Frauke Behrendt, Principal Lecturer in Media Studies, have been awarded the funding from the Department of Transport to explore the uptake of the bikes, in conjunction with Southern Railway and Eastbourne Borough Council.

University staff and students will be the key user group but members of the public will be encouraged to ride the bikes during less-busy times including weekends.

Dr Mandy said sustainability was one of the university’s core values: “The university’s Travel Plan shows that 43 per cent of staff and 21 per cent of students travel to university as single drivers in their cars. The strategy is to reduce single occupancy vehicle transport by 10 per cent for staff and seven per cent for students by 2015.”