FREE bike hire is on offer for key workers in the Forth Valley during April.

Forth Environment Link and Recyke-a-Bike have joined forces with Cycling Scotland to make the region’s two bike share schemes, nextbike and Forth Bike.

One hundred free memberships are being made available for each, giving 200 frontline staff access to 200 nextbikes and 120 Bewegen Forth Bikes for a month with the potential to extend the scheme.

Clara Walker, executive director of Forth Environment Link said: “As a local charity, we’re looking to support Forth Valley’s key workers in any way we can.

“With public transport reduced and social distancing measures in place, getting around by bike is one of the best ways to travel to minimise the risk of transmission.

“Daily exercise outside is also a great way to support our mental health and wellbeing at a challenging time like this.

“We’ll be reviewing the free keyworker memberships after a month, with a view to extending these if there is demand.”

Recyke-a-Bike will be taking special care to protect the health of riders with regular sanitisation of main contact points.

Those using the bikes will also be advised to sanitise their hands immediately before and after use.

Angela Barron, chief executive at Recyke-a-Bike, also asked people not to use the bikes of they have coronavirus symptoms.

The scheme is being supported by Cycling Scotland.

Its head of education and training, Christopher Johnson, said: “Cycling may be the only way for some people to travel to essential work during this time and we are keen to help.

“With funding from Transport Scotland, we are supporting Forth Environment and Recyke-a-Bike to offer free access to bikes to key workers.

“Everyone cycling needs to remember to follow all public health guidance, to stay at least two metres from others, cycle within their ability level and wash hands at their destination.”

Key workers who would like to take advantage of the free offer can contact bikeshare@forthenvironmentlink.org for further details.

Forth Environment Link is also offering NHS key workers exclusive use of its e-bike lending library and a number of doctors and nurses had signed up in the past two weeks since it launched.

They included nurse Helen Konkol from Avonbridge in the Falkirk area.

She said: “Thank you so much Forth Environment Link for lending me an e-bike.

“My own e-bike is off road for repair and I can’t get it fixed at present. I’m using the e-bike back and forth to work at St John’s Hospital in Livingston where I work in the Dialysis Unit.

“It means I don't always have to rely on the car or public transport during this present situation.”

NHS key workers interested in loaning an e-bike can contact ray@forthenvironmentlink.org for Falkirk enquiries or emilyc@forthenvironmentlink.org for Stirling enquiries.