First major station cycle hire programme launched
A NEW bike hire scheme, backed by the Department for Transport and three rail companies, has hit the road.
Bike & Go, a £2m initiative, is the UK’s first major station cycle hire programme, offering rail passengers the opportunity to complete the final leg of their journey by bicycle. Bike & Go is supported by trail franchises, Merseyrail, Northern Rail and Greater Anglia.
Bike & Go will be available at 50 selected railway stations on these networks, covering Yorkshire, Merseyside, the North West, the North East and East Anglia.
The project is modelled on the Dutch Railways OV-fiets station cycle hire concept.
Phillip Darnton, executive director of the Bicycle Association of Great Britain, attended the launch at Liverpool Central Station. He said: “I believe that the Bike & Go scheme not only provides a great new way for people to fall back in love with cycling across the country, but is also a practical way for commuters to try a different way of transport for getting to their final destination after traveling on a train.”
Transport minister Norman Baker added: “Encouraging people to travel sustainably is all about making it easier and more convenient for people to make greener travel choices.
“That is why DfT have provided £1.65m for this scheme, which does just that, by offering rail users affordable bike hire for their onward journey from the station. I want to see more schemes like this that support sustainable travel and give people a viable door-to-door option.”
Kaj Mook, Bike & Go director and customer service director, added: “This is the first national bike scheme in the UK and thanks to the geographical spread of the three networks, its impact is potentially very high.”
