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Droitwich Cycling, Walking and Wheels is a volunteer-led organisation focussed on improving cycling, walking and wheeling in Droitwich and Wychavon

For more information, join our Facebook page, Whatsapp Group or contact@droitwichcyclinggroup.co.uk

Blog

The Transformative Power of e-bikes

12/05/2025Sam Underwood

’m fully sold on the idea of electric bikes and their ability to transform how we get about. Whether, like me, you have an e-cargo bike for lugging about tat, or if it gives you a little help so that you can ride with your partner again, or you’re just more likely to use your bike with a bit of a boost, it’s all good. I’m so sold on them that I’ve run a parish E-bike Loan Scheme for the past few years. Our scheme is really just an extension of the scheme run by Malvern Hills Car Club, which is intended to provide people with a quality e-bike for a couple of weeks, in order that they might test it for sensible period of time, as an alternative to a car. The bikes come with lights, mudguards, a lock and a pannier, to increase their utility. The scheme has been a great success. Inevitably, demand varies somewhat with the seasons, but we’ve gone on to help several residents to purchase and use e-bikes, based on their experiences with the loan bike(s). More recently, we’ve asked loanees to complete a short survey to assess their experience and how we might improve the scheme. This has highlighted just how positive people’s experiences of using an e-bike are, as well as leading us to acquire a second bike that we share with neighbouring parishes, for those wishing to cycle as a pair.

Footloose and car-free

When considering how to write a blog post about living in a car-free household for nearly three years (this is our third winter), it was hard to decide how to approach it. Then, when chatting with a friend who is interested in reducing his car use, it became clear. All Ian really wanted was some information and tips on how we do it. That way, hopefully, we can avoid preaching and just write something useful. That is what will follow but let’s start by setting the scene. We are a two-adult household. No kids. We live rurally, with our closest major amenities and onward travel options around 5 miles away. There is no bus service of much use to us, although the recent addition of the Worcestershire On Demand bus service has piqued our interest. One of us works from home and the other works six miles away, up a big hill. We are both involved in several groups and activities across the week, which has included playing in a brass band in Birmingham (~30 miles away) once a week, and associated concerts across the county and beyond.

Want to start a Bike Bus?

A bike bus is a group of children cycling in formation with grown ups (their grown ups and other volunteers) to get to school. Bike Buses create safe spaces for children to ride to school, reducing traffic and giving families the experience of cycling together.