Forget Boris bikes - "Briscoe's bikes" are coming to Stevenage soon, the councillor responsible for bringing a new cycle hire scheme to the town has joked.
At a council meeting yesterday (Wednesday, July 31), Cllr Lloyd Briscoe, Stevenage Borough Council's cabinet member for economy, skills and transport, confirmed that a supplier is now in place for the service.
Beryl Bikes will provide a number of bicycles around the town that can be hired by residents wishing to get around on two wheels.
At a cabinet meeting in February, councillors supported a preference for bicycles to be physically 'docked' in specific areas. Areas to be prioritised for docking bays included: railway and bus stations, town centre, leisure park, Lister Hospital, Old Town, Stevenage FC, North Herts College and Fairlands Valley Park.
Other areas that could get a docking station include the industrial area and neighbourhood shops.
"This is a really exciting offer to help our residents move around the town in our amazing cycleway network - cheaply, quickly and more healthily, while at the same time benefitting the environment," Cllr Briscoe said.
Beryl are a dedicated cycle hire company, founded in 2012, that run similar schemes in areas such as Brighton, Bournemouth, Norwich, Plymouth and Watford.
In Watford, Beryl bikes cost £1 to unlock, with a further charge of 5p per minute. Day passes can be purchased for £12. Electric bicycles are also available for a slightly higher cost.
The scheme in Stevenage will be funded using Towns Fund grants and money from Section 106 payments.
A public consultation was carried out last year, with a majority of respondents supporting the scheme. Residents said they would like docking stations in areas including the town centre, parks, retail areas, and around neighbourhood shops.
Cllr Briscoe said that consultation and engagement work will continue throughout August, and that he will be chairing a briefing for all councillors on the scheme.
A date for the scheme to begin is yet to be confirmed.
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