Free rides as nextbike welcomes OVO Energy as new scheme sponsor in Glasgow

26.07.2021

Free rides as nextbike welcomes OVO Energy as new scheme sponsor in Glasgow

 

Glasgow’s popular nextbike scheme has today unveiled OVO Energy as its new sponsor in the city - with a week of free rides and the launch of a new green route of the city to celebrate.

 

The three-year-deal will see Glasgow’s nearly 1,000 strong standard fleet of nextbikes turned green for the duration, with OVO Energy’s eye-catching branding proudly displayed on the city’s bikes - which will now be known as OVO Bikes.

 

And in celebration of the sponsorship deal, free rides will be available to all customers from July 26 - August 1.

 

Nextbike MD, Krysia Solheim, said she was thrilled to be welcoming OVO Energy as the scheme sponsor partner.

 

"We're delighted to be revealing OVO Energy as our new scheme sponsor in Glasgow. At nextbike, we're passionate about the part that sustainable transport can play in helping the UK achieve its ambitious net zero targets, so OVO Energy, with its own zero carbon mission, is the perfect fit,” she said.

 

To celebrate the sponsorship launch and champion more sustainable travel options, the green power supplier has partnered with famous Scot and Radio 1 DJ, Arielle Free, to curate the OVO Bikes Green Route for Glasgow residents and visitors to explore a selection of the city’s finest sustainable spots.

 

From vegan eatery turned music venue, The Hug & Pint, to famed vintage and thrift store Emily Rose Vintage, and 100% plant-based soap gifting at Och! Vegan x Hatch; OVO and Arielle’s curated ‘OVO Bikes Green Route’ presents the best collection of unmissable sustainable stops for city dwellers, all within an easy bike ride from one another.

 

Ms Solheim added: "We love the idea of a green cycling route around the city and hope customers new and old will enjoy trying out the OVO Bikes Green Route, and will take advantage of the free rides offer that OVO Energy has put into place over the next week.

 

“It’s more important than ever that people start to think about how they can reduce their own carbon footprints – and thinking about the way we move around our cities is a great place to start. Thanks to this deal, OVO employees will all get free memberships and OVO customers will be eligible for free rides.

 

“Transport is responsible for approximately 20 percent of emissions across the UK. And with the arrival of COP 26 in Glasgow this November, now is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on cycling as a sustainable mode of transport.

 

“The Government’s recent Decarbonisation of Transport unfortunately made no mention of bike share and the impact schemes can have in towns and cities across the UK, but we know that bike share is an essential part of the transport ecosystem in cities like Glasgow.

 

“By switching from a daily car journey to a bicycle, people could make a huge difference, saving on average 249g of CO2 for every kilometre travelled. If we can persuade enough people to make the change, the impact could be significant and will help to realise Glasgow’s 2030 Net Zero Mission ambition.”

 

Adrian Letts, CEO at OVO, says:

 

“At OVO, we’re on a mission to zero carbon. Our OVO Bikes arriving in Glasgow city are part of our ongoing commitment to drive progress towards greener living, whether that's the transport we use or the way we power our homes. Glasgow is a thriving city with so many fantastic, independent businesses who champion sustainable practices, which is why we wanted to highlight the good work they're doing through our OVO Bikes Green Route. Opting to travel around via bicycle, couldn’t be an easier and healthier way of discovering a city. I can’t wait to cycle round the route to each sustainable stop on my next visit.”

 

The sponsorship comes as part of OVO’s drive to create a net-zero world, and intention to make sustainable living for the masses as easy and accessible as possible. OVO is seeking to uplift and support hard-working, Glaswegian businesses, driving OVO Bike riders across the city to support local.

 

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, at Glasgow City Council, which funds the bike share scheme, said:

 

“Glasgow’s cycle hire scheme is a huge ongoing success and it’s easy to understand why it has managed to attract a major new sponsor.

 

“We now have a 1000 bikes at 100 hire stations across the city and the scheme is playing a major role in supporting the growth in active travel across the city.

 

“The hire bikes are now being seen in an increasingly diverse range of Glasgow communities and that’s not only great news for the scheme itself, but also for the new sponsor’s visibility.

 

“The refreshed bikes look fantastic and OVO’s map of sustainable businesses is a great motivation to get on a bike and get around the city.

 

“Ultimately having more people on a bike on a more regular basis is essential if we are to achieve Glasgow’s target of carbon neutrality by 2030. A successful cycle hire scheme therefore has a vital role to play in the city’s effort to tackle the current climate crisis.”

 

To celebrate the launch of the sponsorship and OVO Bikes Green Route, the OVO Bikes will be free for the first 30 minutes of each standard rental for the first week! The promotion will apply to Glasgow OVO Bikes from July 26 to August 1, giving unlimited rides up to 30 minutes per bike. This offer does not apply to the e-bikes. 

 

Rides over 30 minutes will be charged at the normal rate of £1 per 30 minutes or a maximum of £10 per day (24hrs) for Pay As You Ride customers and 50p per 30 minutes or a max of £5 per day (24 hours) for current members. Download the nextbike app to register and start riding! For more information on how to use the scheme, visit nextbike.co.uk/en/glasgow.

 

To find out more about OVO Bikes, the Green Route and to download the map, customers should head to www.ovoenergy.com/ovo-bikes.