Bike shop owner repairs a bicycle wearing a protective mask. (Photo by Diego Puletto/Getty Images)
To get more people on to bicycles during lockdown, U.K. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced on May 23 that the U.K. would get a £50 bicycle repair voucher scheme similar to the one up and running in France.
Exactly one month later, the scheme is now really to roll. Or, at least, businesses can, as of June 23, register their interest.
The scheme is being operated for the government by the Energy Savings Trust. The Bicycle Association, which represents supply companies, and the Association of Cycle Retailers will be urging their respective members to sign up for the “Fix your bike” voucher program.
“Over the past couple of months, millions of people have re-discovered the benefits of cycling and walking,” said a letter to bicycle businesses from a civil servant in the Department for Transport (DfT).
“This has probably been a busy period for your business, and we are thankful for the hard work you have been doing to keep the country moving,” added Rupert Furness, Deputy Director of the DfT’s Active and Accessible Travel department.
Queue outside Brick Lane Bikes, London.
The scheme is part of the government’s aim to “improve air quality, decarbonize transport and support more active forms of travel,” said Furness.
“The scheme will be launched for customer applications shortly,” he noted.
With socially-distanced queues appearing outside many bike shops, and with some not taking in any new repairs until August, Furness revealed that “vouchers will be released gradually to avoid a spike in demand for repairs that cannot be met.”
