News

Electric bikes on Campus

Published on 10 June 2010

Staff at Dundee University are gearing up for a pilot scheme that will see electric bikes used to get around campus.

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Two new battery-assisted Wisper cycles have been bought from the city’s LawnTech shop, with one to be used by the estates department and the other to go into bike pool to all employees. Electric Bikes Scotland

As a pair the bikes cost £3000, bought with financial support from the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN).

The Wisper 905 se model and the Wisper 705 se models can travel up to 56 miles on a single charge and are speed limited to 16mph, to be road legal.

The bikes have 250-watt motors powered by 37-volt lithium battery, and do not gain any charge from the pedalling of the rider.

Environment and sustainability officer Trudy Cunningham said she has been personally testing them around the university grounds.

She said “We are very grateful to TACTAN for providing us with funding for the bikes.

“The aim is to get people out of their cars, reduce the number of vehicles that we have on campus and lower carbon emissions. These bikes have three settings, ranging from no assistance to 40% assistance and then 100% power assistance. They are good for people who are not great cyclists and are quite easy to use”

John Kochaniuk, of Lawntech, at Manhattan Works, said interest in the bicycles has grown steadily since he began to stock them in October.

He added, “Dundee University are planning to use the bikes for their estate staff like wardens and security guards to get around the campus.

“They have shown a big interest and we have had a couple of lecturers coming in to buy them for themselves.

“People don’t want to be arriving at a meeting all sweaty and these bikes provide another option rather than taking a car or a normal bike.

“Stirling University are taking a trial next week and we have already had trails with Tayside Police and Lothian and Borders Police.”

Tayside Police are considering buying some bikes after a successful trial.

The community engagement team gave positive feedback, particularly in the areas of Dundee with steep hills.

A basic model costs just under £1000, and just five pence per day to run.

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Press Office, University of Dundee

press@dundee.ac.uk