«We're going to start using them first in the coastal area, but we haven't ruled out bringing them into the village, although the streets are steeper». This is the plan of action designed by the councillor responsible for the Environment at Torrox Town Hall, Jacinto Medina (IU), for the new electric bike they have just received from the Provincial Government.
Torrox is one of ten municipalities with populations of between 5,000 and 20,000 that have joined the pioneer scheme to encourage the use of two wheels among municipal employees, especially those who spend much of their time on the road, such as the officials responsible for delivering letters of notification.
«The two employees concerned have welcomed the change. The idea is that if they have to make a delivery in Torrox Costa they will drive down from the village, park the car and go by bike to the addresses in question», explains the Environment councillor, who hopes that the idea catches on among the rest of the municipal workforce. «It would be no bad thing if more workers were encouraged to use a more ecological form of transport like this one», he points out.
The ten authorities involved in the scheme ( Torrox is joined by Villanueva del Trabuco, Alameda, Algarrobo, Campillos, Pizarra, Manilva, Álora, Archidona and Mollina) have already received their first bike, which has a power assisted pedalling system consisting of a rechargeable battery, a 250 watt motor, a sensor and a control unit. «The expense is tiny compared with the cost of fuel. For just 60 cents they can do a hundred kilometres», comments Medina who stresses that the advantage lies not only in the saving on fuel but also in their zero atmospheric pollution.
The bikes can reach more than five kilometres per hour with no additional effort from the rider. The ultimate aim of the project is to raise public awareness regarding ways that can help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
«This is part of the Energy Action Plan which aims to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020», explained the President of the provincial authority, Salvador Pendón, who added that their intention is for more areas to join the scheme over the next few months, up to a total of 50 of the 101 municipalities in the province. The idea has been ruled out in the remaining towns and villages due to the rough and sloping terrain.
