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NHS staff in Glasgow are being offered free nextbike memberships to help them travel to work safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Up to one thousand free memberships a month will be made available over the next three months.

All NHS workers will be eligible for the scheme, which has been launched to help them minimise the risks of contracting Covid-19 while travelling to and from work on public transport.

The memberships will provide free unlimited 30 minute rides on the standard pedal bikes, in addition to a £2.50 e-bike credit.

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The scheme has been made possible thanks to a joint funding partnership between Glasgow City Council, ScottishPower and nextbike.  Glasgow City Council has used its allocation from Scottish Governments' Smarter Choices Smarter Places programme to support this initiative.

Mextbike MD, Krysia Solheim, contacted the City Council and Scottish Power to secure support the NHS in its time of need.

She said: “The events over the last few weeks have been unprecedented and it’s clear that now, more than ever, we need to come together to get through this crisis.

“Cycling is the perfect self-distancing way of moving around our cities during the pandemic.

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"Hopefully, by offering NHS staff the chance to take a free nextbike instead of having to use public transport, we will be helping to minimise the risks to their health – so they can continue to look after the health of the nation.

“Our local service provider, Bike for Good, is also doing a vital job by keeping the fleet on the streets for people to use and we can’t thank their staff enough for the dedication they have shown during difficult times.”

Councillor Anna Richardson, Glasgow City Council’s City Convener for Environment and Sustainability, said: "Cycling is a convenient and healthy way to travel and we are delighted to be able to provide the necessary funding to allow NHS staff the means to cycle to and from work at any time of day.”