“We use our bikes for most local journeys now” – Elaine’s e-cargo bike story

When Elaine and her partner retired and moved to Forres, they started looking seriously at how they travelled day to day. Owning two cars felt unnecessary, but giving one up without a plan didn’t feel realistic either.

We were thinking about replacing one of our cars with an electric cargo bike. This is a substantial financial commitment, so we contacted Cycling UK Moray to see if we could try an electric cargo bike

 

Through the Connecting Communities activity in Moray, they were able to borrow an e-cargo bike and test what life might look like with fewer car journeys.

A new way to do the school run

Once their grandchild started school, the bike quickly became part of the family routine.

Our grandchild started school and we needed to take them to and from school each day. We also used the bike to go shopping, visit family and make deliveries. We reduced our car use significantly

 

The school was around 2km away, a distance their grandchild had struggled to walk. The cargo bike made the journey easy and enjoyable instead of tiring.

Our grandchild previously struggled to manage the 2km walk. They enjoyed travelling on the bike and it was an easy way to get them to school. We found that cars were considerate while we used the bike which meant that we could travel safely

 

Using the e-cargo bike also changed how they saw everyday trips around town.

Using the bike has been a quicker and more efficient way to travel around town

 

Growing confidence and new habits

Riding the e-cargo bike didn’t just replace car journeys – it boosted Elaine’s confidence on the road and encouraged her to use her own bike more often.

Having the e-bike has increased my confidence to cycle in the town. On occasions that I didn’t need the cargo bike, I have increased the use of my road bike

 

Over time, the whole family’s travel habits shifted.

We were using the cargo bike each day. We now use our road bikes and our grandchild has learned to ride their bike. We use our bikes for most local journeys instead of our car

 

Everyday benefits: health, time and money

For Elaine, the e-cargo bike loan showed how cycling could fit naturally into daily life.

Having the e-bike has increased my confidence. It made routine journeys enjoyable and was an enjoyable way of keeping active. Cycling is enjoyable, it is a quick way to travel without adding to traffic congestion. The benefits of cycling are great, we saved money on fuel, we were active and enjoyed being outdoors

 

They used a mix of quiet roads and local paths to get around Forres.

We used a mix of cycle paths and road travel for our journeys. Using the cycle paths meant that we could avoid heavy traffic at peak times. This allowed us to get to our destination quicker than we could in a car

 

Trying before buying

For a retired couple considering a major purchase, being able to “try before you buy” was crucial. The support from Cycling UK Moray made that possible.

We had a great experience with Cycling UK Moray. Paula was very responsive and helpful. We really appreciated the loan of the cargo bike as it gave us the opportunity to see if buying one would be a valid option for us

 

Elaine’s story shows how a simple, time-limited loan can unlock lasting change: fewer car trips, more active travel and a grandchild who now rides their own bike for everyday journeys around town.