Brand new mountain bikes are being offered to Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge sixth form and college students as part of a new Somerset County Council initiative to encourage environmentally-friendly travel.
The Saracen Tufftrax bikes, worth £270, are available as a school year-long loan for £40, plus a £75 deposit, which will be retained if the student wants to keep the bike at the end of the year.
The scheme, run by the Moving Somerset Forward team at Somerset County Council, aims to help students get to college or sixth form easily and cheaply, without the need to use a car.
Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council, David Hall said: “Offering a bike loan scheme opens up opportunities for students and helps them to get to college in a cheap and sustainable manner. I am pleased that we are supporting this scheme for the second year and I hope that many more students will take advantage of the bike loans.”
Students must be aged between 16 and 19 years old and attending a further education course between September 2012 and June 2013.
Around 77 students received bikes through the scheme last year, and 98 per cent said they would recommend it to other students.
Free servicing and training is also provided and some second-hand bikes are available at a reduced cost.
There are two application periods, the first ending on 14th June 2012 and the second on 23rd August 2012.
For more information and to apply, visit www.movingsomersetforward.co.uk/bike-loan or call Belinda Payne in the Moving Somerset Forward Team on 01823 357123.
