Mancunian jobseekers will be handed free bikes to help them to get back on the job ladder by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
Around 400 recently refurbished bikes will be awarded through the Bike Back to Work scheme, as well as free training and equipment, with those interested asked to declare their interest directly with their Job Centre.
It is hoped that access to the bikes will eliminate commuting problems for jobseekers, as well as offering a cheaper alternative to public transport.
Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “This is a really worthwhile scheme which could help hundreds of people in Greater Manchester get to work.
“We hope they enjoy their low-cost commute and continue to cycle for many years.
“It’s a great way to get around and stay fit, and helping people to travel to work by bike will benefit the local economy as well as the environment.”
TfGM are offering the bikes to any unemployed individual in Greater Manchester, and they can be picked up from suppliers in Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Stockport, Trafford and Wigan.
Unemployment figures in Manchester were considerably higher than the national average when the last statistics were released on January 20, although the percentage of those without jobs in the North West fell by 7.8% in the quarter.
For more information on the Bike Back to Work Scheme click here.
Image courtesy of Patrick Goossens, via Flickr, with thanks
