PEOPLE in two Scottish cities who are struggling with the cost of transport are to be offered one-year memberships for the city's shared bike scheme for free.

Scots living in Glasgow will be able to apply for one of 100 free memberships  for the citywide OVO Bikes scheme - in collaboration with Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), a national shared transport charity.

The scheme is open to those on low incomes who have difficulty accessing public transport. No bank details are required for he online application.

Those who are successful will be able to use the membership for unlimited free hour-long rides for a whole year.

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Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: “Glasgow’s bike share scheme has been a great success - but there will be thousands of people across the city who have never used it.

“By offering year-long free memberships, we hope to give people who have not considered making cycling their main mode of transport a great reason to try it out.

“With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis putting intense pressure on household budgets, there has never been a better time to give bike sharing a go.

“As well as being good for people’s health, such schemes are also good for Glasgow and the planet, as they dramatically reduce congestion on our roads as well as carbon emissions.”

CoMoUK’s Shared Transport for All project aims to help those in Glasgow and Edinburgh who are in deprived communities.

Last year, the charity worked with more than 150 organisations and 400 low-income Scots to raise the profile of bike share schemes.

This year, their £49,000 project aims to engage with housing workshops and tenants in Glasgow and Edinburgh with cycle safety workshops.