The social enterprise magazine, the Big Issue has today (November 9 launched a joint venture, The Big Issue eBikes, in partnership with ShareBike.

Founder Lord Bird, a keen cyclist himself, sampled out one of the ebikes, in a distinctive bold red and white design, in his home city, Cambridge, in an effort to call on councils and local businesses to take up the scheme in order to provide ethical and sustainable ways for people to travel and support unemployed or vulnerable people back into skilled work.

The new scheme, which sees the founders of The Big Issue partner with ShareBike, who operate eBike Schemes across Europe, will recruit and retrain people who were previously unemployed and support them back into work to run the schemes.

The Big Issue eBikes' employees will be paid a living wage and supported with access to services and support to improve their lives. It will also improve the environmental credentials of many towns and cities across the UK, encouraging people to cycle, rather than drive.

The Big Issue eBikes scheme aims to launch its first fleet in the UK in early 2021, expanding to up to 15 fleets over the following 24 months.

The Big Issue is already fighting the housing and unemployment crisis through the Ride Out Recession Alliance (RORA), bringing together innovative ideas and experts to help keep people in work and in their homes during the recession. The new scheme will form part of RORA's activities to support and re-train people to find new employment pathways in green and ethical industries.

Founder of The Big Issue, Lord John Bird said: "We are living through some dark times, with predications that hundreds of thousands of people could lose their jobs and be made homeless. It's been wonderful to come together with a like-minded organisation with a truly innovative venture that offers hope to those facing great adversity due to Covid-related poverty.

"We are confident that The Big Issue eBikes scheme will recruit and retrain unemployed and vulnerable people in local communities and provide them with access to support and services to improve their lives. So by renting an ebike from The Big Issue not only are you doing good for the environment but you are doing good for others too. You are biking for good."

Jan Tore Endresen, CEO of ShareBike, said: "In our partnership with The Big Issue, ShareBike sees a unique opportunity to help people whilst providing sustainable mobility. With more than 20 years' experience in global bike sharing we have ensured that Big Issue eBikes offer a comfortable and convenient alternative to fossil fuel-based transportation, as well as providing an affordable mode of travelling around cities in the UK."

Councils or businesses interested in the scheme can visit www.bigissue.bike to find out how they can set up an eBike scheme in their local community.

If you are a cyclist, to register or to hear more about when The Big Issue eBikes scheme may be coming to a community near you, visit www.bigissue.bike.