Herringthorpe e-bike taster event sets the wheels in motion for loan scheme

The Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Alan Buckley, got on his bike after being invited by fitness ambassador Ray Matthews to an e-bike induction event.

The mayor and marathon man Ray were joined by more than 50 people who were keen to learn more about the high-tech cycle craze.

Chris Orange, of British Cycling and Cycle Rotherham, was also on hand at Herringthorpe Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday to help people get to grips with the e-bikes for free.

Age UK Rotherham ambassador Ray helped to set up the event at Herringthorpe Stadium to encourage the ageing population to get active.

Ray (77) said: “We had a fantastic response - we had more people down than e-bikes.

“It was mainly the over-50s who came, which is what we wanted.

“People who tried the e-bikes out were saying they didn’t realise how much power they gave out.”

Ray, who discovered the joys of e-bikes around two years ago, said the purpose of the two-day taster event was to establish that there was “a need for these bikes and some funding to buy them so they can be loaned out”.

The event was being supported by South Yorkshire Electric Bike Centre, which is based on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate.

Ray will now put his findings to Rotherham Borough Council in a bid to secure funding to bring an e-bike loan scheme to the town.