Leeds E-Bike scheme launches: Leeds local reactions

Leeds locals react to Leeds City Bikes, the new electric bike scheme which has launched across the city. Will you be gearing up to give them a go?

Transcript

00:00 I enjoy cycling, I used to work in London a lot and cycled the London routes quite a lot.

00:05 It was a handy way to get between sites and between offices.

00:08 I'd probably try it here in Leeds actually.

00:10 I wasn't aware of it particularly.

00:12 I'm less worried about the electric side of it and more worried about actually it's easy to hire them and borrow them and go around town.

00:17 Obviously it's quite a confined town centre here but for getting a bit further out it's quite helpful, yeah.

00:22 If I'm honest I struggle to work my way around Leeds now in a car but I've seen the new cycle lanes, it looks good.

00:28 Cost wise, I think the cost is sensible.

00:31 It's good that it's a per minute charge rather than a per journey charge or something like that.

00:35 That encourages people to then leave their bikes rather than just dump them in the canal or something else.

00:39 So hopefully that's a positive.

00:41 I think it's great to have more investment in infrastructure in Leeds.

00:44 I rely on the buses quite a lot so I don't cycle.

00:47 But everyone knows that Leeds does need bigger public transport investment.

00:53 Buses are okay but I think the fact it's one of the largest cities in Europe that doesn't have a dedicated public transport system.

01:01 But I think it's great to see more bikes about.

01:03 I think it's good for the environment. I think it'll be good for the city.

01:06 I just hope everyone's safe on them.

01:09 There is a lot of issues with them, especially I think with delivery drivers, things like that.

01:13 Don't always follow the traffic signals and I have had to look over my shoulder a few times to see a bike come flying past me.

01:19 But as long as everyone behaves like an adult I think it's a great investment.

01:22 Personally I've never cycled in Leeds. I think it might be a bit too busy for me to be honest with you.

01:28 Too many traffic, buses, pedestrians and things like that. I think it'd be too busy.

01:32 I don't have a problem with it to be honest with you. I don't see many cyclists.

01:36 But I think it's a great idea. Obviously it's cheaper than public transport or anything like that.

01:42 So I think it's a good way of commuting to work and back and things.

01:46 I've never cycled in Leeds to be fair with you. But I think it's an alright idea. It's cheaper as you said.

01:52 And it gets you around easier because you can go in the cycle lanes at the Avant.

01:56 I think it's a great initiative. I think it's good for the economy, especially people buying bikes, trying new things out.

02:05 I think it'll also cut down on public transport which is obviously good for the environment.

02:10 Get people a bit more active in and around Leeds which is quite an inactive place.

02:14 Everything's quite close together so taking use of all the cycle equipment I think is a great thing to be doing.

02:21 I think they've said it all but I just think it's going to be more fun, more interesting.

02:27 Seeing cyclists going around, making it more fun.

02:33 I'm a very cycle lover and I cycled from John O'Groat to Land's End in 2012.

02:41 And now I see the electric bikes. At that time there were no electric bikes.

02:47 So we just pedalled it to Land's End.

02:50 So I think electric bikes are quite good for the public in the town centre, in the city centre.

02:59 But not on the highways and not on the A-roads.