The Big Issue launched its first-ever -bike scheme in Bristol earlier this month, in partnership with ShareBike. The eco-friendly bikes launched on February 1 and there are plans to roll them out to other UK cities in the future.
The affordable transport initiative will benefit the local community by giving people an alternative to car usage ahead of the Clean Air Zone plan, which is due to begin in the late summer. It is designed to encourage healthy living in each location, by reducing congestion and encouraging people to cycle rather than drive.
Green employment opportunities have also been made available through the launch. Unemployed and vulnerable people in local communities have been offered positions and will be provided with access to support and services to improve their lives. All employees will be paid the living wage.
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It's not the only presence that The Big Issue has in Bristol with the organisation helping an average of 30 Bristol-based vendors sell nearly 1,500 copies of the magazine each week. They've also invested in local business and the wider Bristol community over the years.
To help with the launch of Big Issue's e-bikes, £450,000 was invested from City Friends - a Bristol-based impact investment fund run by Bristol & Bath Regional Capital - but how good are the bikes when it comes to using them?
We decided to put them to the test to find out if they're a decent rival to Voi in terms of cheap, environmentally friendly transport around the city.
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Our verdict
Having never ridden an e-bike before, I wasn't too sure what to expect, but I was far from disappointed. Bristol's hilly environments are never going to be an issue ever again if you're on board one Big Issue's 400 bikes across the city.
The electric motor kicked in with one push and just like that I was suddenly lost in the wind and speeding along. I found you barely have to pedal at all to navigate across the city, making it an effortless journey for riders.
Unfortunately, I do think the brakes could have been better, but they were functional and safe, just not as sharp as I perhaps expected. The saddle itself was comfortable.
The bikes only have one gear, so when I went to try and tackle the notoriously steep Park Street, I didn't have to worry about changing through the gears. In fact, it seems like barely an incline when upon one of these bikes.
They're easy to unlock, too, by simply scanning the QR code on the back of the bike via the swanky new app. To finish your journey you have to take a photo of where you've placed the bike and there are no annoying boundary lines like you find on Voi, which can lead to very frustrated users when GPS signals play up.
It only costs a flat fee of 50p to begin your ride on the pay as you go option, then a further 20p per minute while riding, or you can opt for a £19.95 monthly subscription which gives the first 10 minutes of every ride for free before later charging you 20p per minute. Both plans are capped at £12.
Each bike in Bristol has a different name which is quite an exciting feature for people looking to hop on board. I had the pleasure of riding Karin through Bristol. The app on your mobile phone tells you the location of your nearest e-bikes, its battery charge and directions to where you can find it, making it super easy for users.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. Having used YoBikes in the past, I found this a much easier journey through Bristol, especially as I wasn't all sweaty and exhausted by the end of my journey. I would strongly recommend trying one out.
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