Guernsey Press

Saddle up for an electric revolution on two wheels

HUNDREDS of miles have been ridden within just a few days of a new electric bike revolution reaching Guernsey.

Published
Phil Le Poidevin from EVie Bike, a new business scheme where electric bikes can be rented via an app. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 29407733)

In total, 25 brightly-coloured electric bikes for hire are stationed around the 32 possible locations in the island.

The difference is that users do not need to go to a bike rental shop, riders just have to download an app on their mobile phone, and use the app to find a bike that is waiting to be used.

Phil Le Poidevin from EVie Guernsey said cycling was becoming more popular in the island, and so far the new form of transport was going down well.

‘It’s all been very positive, I’ve bumped into a few people who’ve been using them and they said they were very happy and impressed by it.

‘We’ve had good uptake, everyday there’s been people out cycling on them, there were people cycling into early evening on Monday night.

‘I hope that more people get to go out and enjoy cycling in Guernsey, I love cycling myself, and the bikes stand out, they’re sparking conversations, so we’re hoping people get involved and enjoy it.’

The way it works is that initially a user needs to download the app and enter bank details, then find a bike, scan the bike’s QR code, squeeze the brake twice, and off you go.

When you are finished, you can leave the bike in any of Guernsey’s 32 cycle parks, or you can even leave it on your driveway, but that will incur a £5 extra charge.

The beauty of the system is that all the bikes have GPS, so within the app there is a map showing where each is.

At 5pm yesterday the nearest bikes to the Guernsey Press office in the Braye Road Industrial Estate were at Southside on the Bridge. There were two there, and the map was showing that there was another one at L’Ancresse.

Mr Le Poidevin believes the new offering will have broad appeal.

Commuters can arrive at work without a sweat, but also it is fun, and the journey becomes the destination.

‘It’s a very big mix of everybody. I can see some commuters using them, but I think it will be a lot more locals just wanting to pootle around and do things on their day off, or maybe popping out somewhere after work, or people living in Town might want to pop out to the West coast.

‘And I think tourists will use them as well, but we’ll have to wait for that to pick up again.

‘I started all the bikes in Town, and they ended up very spread out. I’ve been collecting them from Port Soif, Grande Rocque, Cobo, there was one bike at L’Eree, and I’ve collected two from up near L’Ancresse.

‘So they have been getting out and about, they’ve been all over the island, but I haven’t collected any from the south coast yet.’