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The government’s delayed £25 million bike repair scheme will launch on Tuesday, it has been announced.
Up to half a million of the vouchers to help the public “drag bikes out of retirement” were due to be issued from June as part of government efforts to promote more cycling as lockdown eases.
During a coronavirus briefing on May 23, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the initiative would be “available next month” and relieve pressure on public transport, improve public health and reduce the “hidden killer” of air pollution.
But the deadline was missed, with the Department for Transport saying earlier this month the scheme would only begin when maintenance shops could handle the expected spike in demand.
The scheme is now ready, and customers can apply for the voucher from 11.45pm on Tuesday 28 July.
The Fix Your Bike initiative forms part of Boris Johnson’s plans for a “new golden age for cycling” with more bike lanes and safer junctions.
Bike repair shops have been able to sign up to the scheme in the lead-up to its launch. Halfords has signed up and said it has thousands of slots available each day for customers to bring their bike into stores for a free 32-point health check to assess potential faults which could be rectified under the scheme.
A poll of 2,000 adults commissioned by the retailer indicated that only 48% of people know how to repair a puncture, 43% could tighten lights and fix a loose chain, and 37% could adjust their own brakes.
Halfords chief executive Graham Stapleton said: “When it comes to bike repairs, we’ve noticed a change in customer mindset, with more cyclists turning to us to help with the smallest of fixes as they dust off their old bikes and seek to avoid public transport.
“As part of the scheme, our thousands of highly skilled bike mechanics will offer each cyclist a free 32-point bike check and diagnosis, which will help them decide how best to spend their voucher.”
How can I get the voucher?
Registrations for members of the public who want to apply for a voucher open at 11.45pm on 28 July 2020 on the Energy Saving Trust website. It operates on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The scheme is open to anyone in England who has an unused cycle in need of a repair. Vouchers can only be used with bike repairers or mechanics that are registered for the scheme in England, and up to two vouchers can be claimed per household.
A full list of terms and conditions and eligibility criteria is provided when you register. Once you have your voucher, you can take your bike into a participating repairer to be fixed, using it to cover up to £50 of the total cost of the repairs.