As the world’s elite cyclists descend on Cornwall later this week for the start of the Tour of Britain, Cornwall Council has said it will be giving people a chance to test out their own pedal power at a more leisurely pace.

The Council will be hosting an e-Bike roadshow in Marazion opposite Folly Fields Car Park, just off Green Lane on Sunday 5 September, just around the bay from the start of the Grand Depart stage in Penzance.

Visitors will be able to try out the e-Bikes and officers will be on hand to answer queries including how e-Bikes work, how much they cost to run and the benefits to our health and environment.

There will be a range of models at the event with different features and styles on show.

Cornwall Council has been awarded £451,000 from the Department for Transport to encourage more people to try e-Bikes, swapping four wheels for two.

The Council will be developing and delivering the country’s first e -Bike pilot with Wheels to Work to support access to employment.

More roadshows will be taking place throughout the year but this first one is being held on the day that cycling is centre stage in Cornwall at the spectacular Grand Depart of the Tour of Britain.

Cycling Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris said: "I’m delighted we’ll be establishing Cornwall as a pilot area for a new Government-backed e-cycle support scheme, providing opportunities for people from all walks of life in the region to try them out and experience the many benefits they can bring.

"E-cycles are perfect for anyone who’s new to cycling, or would like to try a cycle that does some of the legwork for them.

"The roadshow is the first element of the pilot scheme, which will help people see the benefits of e-cycles, enjoy the beautiful Cornish scenery, and make more environmentally-friendly journeys."

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With road transport being a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, Cornwall Council is committed to providing the infrastructure to help residents and visitors make healthy and sustainable choices about how they travel.

Having declared a climate emergency in 2019, the Council is striving to help Cornwall to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Philip Desmonde, Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for transport, said: "Research shows that around a third of journeys made by car are of less than 5km.

"We want to show people the benefits of using e-Bikes to encourage them to consider using them for their daily commute, drawing them away from single user car journeys and helping reduce carbon emissions and peak travel time congestion.

"If you’ve been put off cycling in the past because of our wonderful but hilly landscape, an e-Bike could be the answer for you."

Devon & Cornwall Police and the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Officer will also be riding e-bikes on the day of the Grand Depart to patrol the event in a sustainable way.

Louise Sawyer, Environment and Sustainability Manager for Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "We are delighted to be joining Cornwall Council and partners at the Tour of Britain.

"At Devon and Cornwall Police, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and encouraging our officers and staff to support our communities more sustainably.

"The e-Bike pilot scheme demonstrates a positive and healthy way we can patrol events and neighbourhoods whilst helping minimise our impact on the environment.

"We are continuing with the pilot scheme beyond the Tour of Britain week, with officers’ trialling the use of e-Bikes as they support their communities.

"The use of e-Bikes offers a real opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint but also has genuine health benefits to officers and, additionally, increases officer visibility and therefore accessibility to the public."

Find out more about the event and about e-Bikes at www.cornwall.gov.uk/ebikeroadshows