Micromobility provider Beryl has been selected by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) as its delivery partner to design, deliver and operate Greater Manchester’s cycle hire scheme.
Phase one of the scheme is set to include 1,500 bikes and e-bikes, available from over 200 new cycle hire docking stations across Manchester, Trafford and Salford. The collaboration said its initial launch will see bikes available within a five-minute walk of 198,000 households.
The scheme is part of wider plans to create a protected cycling and walking route which will cover all of Greater Manchester’s 10 districts, called the Bee Network.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “We’re fully integrating our public transport system – The Bee Network – and building the UK’s largest cycling and walking network, so I am very pleased to announce that Beryl has been named as our delivery partner for cycle hire, with the first bikes going on the ground later this year.
“Our cycle hire will be one of the largest docked systems outside London and I cannot wait to use the new bikes myself as a way to get from A to B.”
The cycle hire scheme in Greater Manchester will be planned and implemented alongside the local community, in order to ensure that it benefits everyone. Consultations have already begun with key local stakeholder groups, and this engagement will continue throughout the planning and implementation process.
According to Beryl and TfGM, this approach to cycle hire means that the bike and e-bike docking stations are conveniently placed, not only for those that use them, but for all other road and pavement users as well.
Philip Ellis, CEO of Beryl said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been selected to deliver Greater Manchester’s new cycle hire scheme, bringing our experience and innovation to one of the great city-regions in Europe.
‘’As we begin to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, enabling people to travel safely, affordably, and conveniently by bike will be key to rejuvenating our high streets and improving our environment – particularly reducing air pollution.”
