How e-bikes are helping women in Manchester travel freely and confidently
Electric bikes are transforming the way women travel in Greater Manchester: making cycling more accessible, practical and empowering for people facing everyday barriers. Caroline and Annie are two such women whose lives have changed for the better through the Borrow an e-bike scheme, part of the Making cycling e-asier programme.
Caroline: overcoming hills and health hurdles
Caroline used to cycle once or twice a week – only when the weather was good and the roads were kind. The thought of commuting uphill during the colder months felt overwhelming. But as someone experiencing menopause, she was also looking for ways to stay active without putting stress on her joints.
I’m in menopause at the moment, and I can’t do really heavy exercise because it’s very painful on the joints. I know I need to be doing lighter exercise and this is just absolutely perfect
Discovering the Borrow an e-bike scheme online gave Caroline the opportunity to try an e-bike without the upfront cost. What she found was a transport solution that ticked all the boxes: low-impact exercise, reliable commuting, and significant financial savings.
So I just haven’t put any fuel in my car for the last month at all, which is lovely
The electric assist helped her keep up with traffic safely and confidently. For Caroline, it wasn’t just about saving money – it was about feeling capable and strong on the road again.
Annie: ditching traffic and gaining time
For Annie, the programme came at the perfect time. With one of her cars out of action, commuting by public transport had become a daily grind: full of delays, cancellations and crowding.
She turned to Borrow an e-bike hoping for a backup plan. What she found instead was a whole new way of getting around.
I could get to work and back three times on this bike in the time it takes me to commute by public transport or by car. Undertaking all the cars on my way home in rush hour traffic in the cycle lanes is very liberating
Even when her car was fixed, Annie didn’t want to go back. She’d discovered a better, freer way to travel – and now she’s looking to buy an e-bike of her own.
Caroline and Annie’s experiences are just two examples of how Making cycling e-asier is supporting women across Greater Manchester to travel more actively, affordably and independently. Whether it’s improving wellbeing, saving money, or simply enjoying the ride, e-bikes are helping women take control of their journeys and feel good doing it.
