
The new Bike to Health scheme opens in Frome this week.
The initial vision for referral for bike to health came from retired GP at Frome Medical Practice and bike enthusiast Dr Mark Vose. He had a vision that Frome could be the first community to be able to prescribe cycling as a health benefit.
However, one of the barriers to people enjoying cycling in Frome, particularly people with health issues, are all the hills and so the solution was to order two electric bikes that people could enjoy cycling which have assistance if required.
The GPs at Frome Medical Practice will now be able to refer patients who they believe would benefit from cycling to be able to hire bikes at a reduced cost.
Mayor of Frome, cllr Sheila Gore, a non-cyclist, was persuaded to try one out. She said, “I haven’t ridden a bike for years but the electric bike you can hire through the council was fantastically easy to ride. I picked the bike up from Cycology, the bike shop in town and rode up hill with little effort! Definitely going to hire for a ride sometime soon.”
The scheme Bike to Health will operate from the 5th June by referral and patients will be able to hire an electric bike at a reduced fee. The costs for a patient will be £5 for half a day or a whole day for £10 and once demand has been established, the scheme will be extended to the general public. The bikes will need to be booked and paid for at Frome Town Hall either in person or by phoning 01373 465757 and then picked up/dropped off from Cycology in Cork Street during their opening hours.