Work to install 45 bays across Stevenage will soon begin as part of a new e-bike hire scheme. 

Sustainable transport operators Beryl has teamed up with Stevenage Borough Council to bring 150 e-bikes to the town, which will be available to hire from early autumn.

Ahead of this, a notice is being placed at the proposed bay locations to advise the community where they will be located.

Locations of the bay include in and around the town centre, close to Airbus, the train station, as well as plenty dotted around less central locations.

The community will have the opportunity to give their views on these locations by contacting Beryl and installation will not begin until after this period closes.

Last year, the council carried out consultation around the introduction of cycle hire, with over 1,000 responses received, helping to shape the scheme.

Beryl CEO and co-founder, Phil Ellis, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing our services to Stevenage, an area that has a clear and achievable vision for encouraging more sustainable transport choices.

“Our e-bikes are a fun, easy and versatile way to travel and their extra power can really open up areas, enabling riders to tackle hills and undertake longer journeys.

“They’re also great for commuting, helping to reduce physical exertion and allowing people to arrive at work clean and ready to go.

“By encouraging more people to swap four wheels for two, we can hopefully contribute even more towards reducing traffic congestion while improving air quality and public health.”

Cllr Lloyd Briscoe commented: “Active travel is something we are encouraging throughout the town.

"We have a unique cycle network but in Stevenage, nearly 60 per cent of car journeys made are less than five miles.

"By having bikes available to hire, it will allow people to travel using a pollution-free method of transport, and further connect different areas of Stevenage.

"Having bikes located across the town and the flexibility that the cycle hire scheme offers will open up cycling to a greater number of people."

The Stevenage Cycle Hire Scheme will be operated by Beryl on behalf of the council and has been funded in part by funding awarded to Stevenage in 2021 as part of UK government’s Towns Fund, through the Stevenage Development Board, as well as contributions from developers as part of Section 106 agreements.

Users will be able to pay for their journeys in a variety of ways to suit individual needs and circumstances, with Pay-As-You-Ride and Minute Bundles.

The proposed list of bays can be viewed at https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1l-1lehvf8usP93lk-G7Ec3Z7e6pWKxs&usp=sharing.    

Members of the public can also submit their own specific requests for bays at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/5ad564dcf958426aa2a16f97d6aa6e98.