Brighton's bike sharing scheme is set to grow, making it even easier for more users to get riding. It will mean new docking stations around the city, an increase in the size of existing stations, and a new van to redistribute the scheme's Life Bikes.
BTN BikeShare, sponsored by Life Natural Spring Water and AMEX, has seen great success since it launched last September. Upwards of 20,000 people have subscribed to the scheme, making over 100,000 trips across the city.
Scheme users will now be able to pick-up and drop-off bikes at the re-opened Whitecross Street docking station and new locations on Eastern Road and the north edge of Preston Park. Popular docking stations - including those at Hove Lawns and Preston Park South - have also been upgraded to hold more bikes.
Additionally, the scheme has purchased a new van for its redistribution team. The vehicle holds up to 20 bikes, allowing for more efficient redistribution and maintenance pick-ups. Riders will immediately benefit from even greater cycle availability.
Tim Caswell, owner of Hourbike, the company operating the scheme, said: “In increasing the number and size of docking stations, we’ll be able to service even more of Brighton & Hove’s residents, commuters, and visitors. Excitingly, we are also working on further expansion plans which we hope to announce in the coming weeks.”
Cllr Gill Mitchell, chair of the environment, transport and sustainability committee said: “It’s great to see that BTN Bikeshare is expanding due to demand. I hope that it will not be too long before there are more hubs in the outer areas of the city encouraging this most sustainable form of travel."
The Brighton Bikeshare scheme has been developed to be cost neutral to the council. A profit-sharing element has been agreed between the operator and the authority. This will mean the council receiving 50 per cent of profits made above a set revenue threshold of £330,000 per annum. At this early stage of the scheme it is too early to say how much profit will be returned to the council from the first year of operation.
All money the council gets from the scheme will be spent on sustainable transport measures.