To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether there are plans to pilot public hire schemes for e-Bikes.

As the Member will be aware, I am very keen to increase the proportion of journeys made by walking, cycling and public transport right across Northern Ireland. I want to do what I can to remove barriers for people who want to walk and cycle more as they go about their everyday lives. That is why I introduced legislation in the Assembly to make e-bikes legal in Northern Ireland and help make cycling accessible to more people. It is also why I announced a £20 million fund for blue / green infrastructure.

The current public bike hire scheme in Belfast is run by Belfast City Council although it is temporarily suspended due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. A pilot public hire scheme for e-Bikes might be the kind of project that could be supported from the blue / green infrastructure fund and I would be willing to consider any proposal put forward by Councils.