Public Servant Lifestyle

Public servants on official business in Stockport encouraged to hop on electric mopeds.

A forward-thinking public sector employer is encouraging its staff to hop on electric-powered mopeds when travelling on official business.

A pool of mopeds will be available for employees of Stockport Council (SMBC) in the Greater Manchester area, to use when they need to travel on local authority duties.

The mopeds - introduced during the Council's Change The Way We Travel Month - are available at two locations (including the main Civic Complex), where they will be kept in designated parking and recharging bays which have been specially installed.

Pictured (right): Councillor Hazel Lees joins in the unveiling of the new staff mopeds.

All Stockport Council employees will have to abide by the rules and regulations of the scheme and undergo basic motorcycle training in order to join the scheme and use the mopeds. Crash helmets, protective clothing and insurance will be provided.

Councillor Hazel Lees, Executive Member for the Environment commented: ?The launch of the moped scheme underlines the Council?s commitment to sustainable travel and leads the way for the rest of Stockport.

"As part of the Council?s Sustainable Travel Plan, we are always looking to provide alternative transport for employees to encourage them to leave their cars at home or, if they travel to work by car, to use the mopeds during work hours for Council business. We are confident that this will reduce the Council?s business mileage and also cut emissions.?

The mopeds are very environmentally friendly, are powered by electricity, produce no harmful emissions and cost less than a penny a mile to run, providing considerable savings on business mileage. As an added bonus all electrically powered vehicles are exempt from vehicle excise duty. They have a maximum speed of 45 km/hr and a maximum range of 40 km on full charge.

More information available in Eco Motoring, Motorcycles, Dream Machines