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Press Release 17/6/99
"National Park goes green and buys first solar-powered bicycle.
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has bought a solar powered bike which it took to the road for the first time during National Bike Week (12-20 June).
One of the cleanest and greenest forms of transport available, the bike will be trialled by National Park staff to find out if it could be used as an alternative to the car in the Park's everyday work.
The solar-powered bike is designed to take the effort out of cycling. It provides the cyclist with an injection of of power when it's most needed and makes climbing hills easy and effortless. Converted from an ordinary mountain bike, the bicycle runs on a battery that is recharged continuously by the solar panel on the back or from the electricity mains. It doesn't use petrol or diesel so it doesn't release any harmful emissions into the environment.
The bike has been developed and manufactured locally in Pembrokeshire by Newport based company, Energy Enterprise.
In National Bike Week the National Park Authority has started test-driving the bike at its site at Upton Castle Gardens. Estate worker Philip Jordan, will be using the bike as part of his everyday work, which includes regular trips back and forth to nearby Carew Castle.
'The Park has been looking for a cheap and green alternative to our vans and cars for some time, and the solar-powered bike seems like the ideal solution,' said Steve Brick, the National Park's Technical Officer.
'It's more useful than an ordinary bike because it enables an ordinary person, who might not be very fit, to manage hills and long distances without wearing themselves out completely.'
'Although we're launching the bike in National Bike Week this isn't just a publicity stunt. We will be putting the bike into serious use to find out just how practical and useful it can be and we very much hope that it will prove to be an economic and reliable form of transport. If it does we will be looking for other uses and opportunities for the bike.'
If the trial is a success the National Park Authority plans to introduce the bike more widely. It also hopes to be able to offer advice about the bike to other local organisations and businesses looking at alternative forms of transport, as well as promoting its use in both leisure and work.
As part of it's commitment to the environment and to sustainable development the National Park Authority has already converted all its machinery to unleaded petrol and recently installed a low energy electricity system at Upton Castle Gardens, after taking advice from the West Wales Eco Centre."
(For further information contact the Communications Officer, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority)
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