Electric bicycle providers are loaning their bikes to NHS workers in London to support them during the coronavirus pandemic.

Chessington-based manufacturers GoCycle and London retailers Fully Charged announced a partnership that will see them loan an initial 20 E-bikes worth almost £2,000 each to NHS staff in London battling Covid-19 coronavirus.

Fully Charged said the bikes will provide a "healthy and safe alternative to public transport" during the crisis.

The company said its trained mechanics will assemble and conduct pre-delivery inspections on all of the GoCycle eBikes prior to them going to their new temporary owners.

Dan Parsons, Fully Charged Director of Operations, pointed out that cycling shops had been excluded from the government's restrictions on retailers and that underlined their importance to key workers at the moment.

"Bicycle stores have been excluded from the Government’s list of mandatory closures amid the COVID-19 crisis," he said.

"This is a reflection of the importance of cycling as a viable alternative to using public transport, as well as the benefits it offers to people’s health and wellbeing, particularly at a time of self-isolation and social distancing.

"We’re able to remain operational, our focus is on supporting the country’s key workers – namely NHS staff who are going above and beyond to help those suffering at the hands of COVID-19.

"We are grateful to Gocycle as our first partner in this project and hope that other suppliers follow their example and generous commitment, allowing us to increase the offering to NHS workers in due course.”

Parsons added that Fully Charged were calling on other manufacturers in the industry to join Chessington's GoCycle and help support NHS workers with bikes during the pandemic.

Gocycle Founder and Designer Richard Thorpe added that bicycles could help slow the spread of Covid-19:

“Bicycles are part of the solution, but tired legs will appreciate the benefits of an electric motor to assist them home with less effort.

"We’ve all seen the images of packed tubes in the capital in the last few days. With far less traffic above ground, and the reduced number of trains being made available, ebikes are probably the best solution for essential NHS workers to move around the city.

"It’s a tough time for everyone being on lock down and very hard for small businesses everywhere. We really appreciate the chance to help London’s frontline NHS staff, however small our role might be."

NHS workers can apply for one of the e-bikes on offer using this link: https://promo.fullycharged.com/nhs-support