AN ELECTRIC bike scheme is being launched in the city as part of a national scheme to encourage more people to get on their bikes.

Oxford Brookes University is running the scheme on Tuesday, June 14 and will see ten e-bikes made available for staff to use for free when travelling between the university's Oxford campuses as part of Bike Week 2016.

Vice-Chancellor professor Julie McLeod said: "At Oxford Brookes, we are aiming to have a culture of sustainable travel embedded throughout the University and improve the health of staff and students by encouraging active travel.

"Our staff frequently move between the different campuses, whether it is for meetings, teaching or an event, and the e-bikes will provide an alternative and sustainable means of travel."

The e-bikes have been donated by the cycle BOOM research project led by Dr Tim Jones at the university.

Cycle BOOM is a three-year study funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which investigates cycling among the older population and how this affects independence, health and wellbeing.

The scheme will compliment the university's other initiatives, which are open to students too, such a the free Bike Doctor service, the Cyclescheme, Oxonbike bike hire and interest-free loans for travel tickets.

For more information visit: brookes.ac.uk/travel/do-you-need-to-travel-/