Following a competitive tendering process, the UK’s leading micromobility provider, Beryl, will provide Hereford’s bike share scheme for another five years.
Working with Herefordshire Council, Beryl will also be doubling the number of e-bikes available to users, adding another 30 from September with more set to come during 2022.
The scheme initially launched in July 2019 with 75 bikes, eventually rising to 200 bikes with an additional 30 e-bikes added in March 2021, and has proven to be very popular with over 203,000 journeys being made, covering almost 495,000 km.
This equates to a significant environmental impact, saving 16.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of 1,100,915 kettles boiled or almost 96 flights from London to Edinburgh.
Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Beryl for another five years and look forward to the additional e-bikes that will be arriving soon. It’s vital that we provide opportunities for as many people as possible to get out and about and enjoy the benefits of healthy, sustainable modes of transport such as cycling. The e-bikes are a joy to ride and encourage nervous or less fit riders to give cycling a go.
“Our fleet of Beryl Bikes are a real asset to the City and are proving hugely successful in helping to promote physical wellbeing and doing a little bit to protect our local environment.”
The scheme has also had a significant impact on road congestion, with feedback from users showing that 25.5% of the bike and e-bike journeys in Hereford have replaced road transport journeys - including driving a car/van, being a passenger in a car/van, and using a taxi or riding a motorbike or moped.
Beryl CEO, Phil Ellis, said: “We’re obviously delighted that Herefordshire Council have chosen to continue to partner with us in their bid to get people travelling more sustainably, reducing congestion while improving air quality and public health. Hereford is a great example of how delivering a range of services can better contribute towards the aims of an integrated transport network.
“Each type of transport has its own benefits and appeals, meaning that when they are delivered as a package, they can complement each other and broaden the appeal of active travel solutions. Over the next five years, we will continue to aim to remove the barriers that stop people using sustainable transport and inspire them to give it a try.”
Beryl will continue to deliver the scheme with local delivery partner, including local cycling courier solutions company Pedicargo, who distribute the bikes, and community interest company Hereford Cycle Hub, who help to maintain them.
You can hire a Beryl Bike or e-Bike through the Beryl app, available for free download on the App Store for iOS, and the Google Play Store for Android users.
The Beryl e-Bike can be differentiated from the Beryl Bikes through a lightning bolt symbol visible on the bike and bay icons in-app. The local Beryl operations team manage all the on street maintenance and use a battery swapping process to ensure the e-bikes are charged and ready for use.
For more information on Beryl schemes, please visit beryl.cc