E-bike provider expands discount scheme to older riders

UK micromobility provider Forest is boosting access to shared e-bikes amongst older people with its Friends of the Forest scheme.

It follows feedback from London borough authorities in which councillors flagged their interest in offering subsidies for older users.

E-bike discount scheme

The Friends of the Forest scheme was launched in 2022 and allows NHS workers, students and emergency service workers to access 20 per cent off all rides. It is now expanding the discount scheme to include those aged 60 years and over.

The benefits of cycling in older age have been widely reported with a study showing that cyclists between the ages of 50 and 83 received the same health benefits from cycling an electric bike that younger people do riding on a standard pedal bike.

“This is particularly important for older generations who are underrepresented in shared bike schemes but benefit disproportionately from the health outcomes of cycling”

According to the National Travel Survey, however, less than 25 per cent of all over 60s have a bike compared to almost 50 per cent of those between the ages of 40 and 49 years-old. In bike-sharing, users over the age of 55 currently constitute only 10 per cent of e-bike users according to a recent Como UK report.

To apply for the scheme a user simply needs to navigate to the Free Minutes section of the Forest app and upload a photo of their qualifying ID (ID showing age over 60 years old, student ID, NHS ID, or Blue Light Card) alongside a selfie holding the same qualifying ID next to their face.