A 400-strong fleet of hireable e-bikes will be introduced to the streets of Plymouth next year, as part of the council’s mobility hubs project.
The bikes, which will be based across the city and will be bookable online, are designed to reduce reliance on private car use in Plymouth as well as the city’s travel to work wider area.
Beryl has been appointed to provide the bikes, having already delivered micromobility schemes in Norwich, Hereford, Watford, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, the Isle of Wight, Hackney and Greater Manchester.
Beryl CEO, Phil Ellis, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen to deliver this scheme and I’m confident our experience and expertise can inspire more people to take up sustainable transport while delivering new skills and jobs to Plymouth.
“E-bikes are a fun, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to get around a city, helping to reduce harmful emissions while improving air quality and public health.
“They can play a key role in a sustainable urban transport network, helping to connect modes of transport and reduce traffic congestion by encouraging people to switch from their cars for shorter journeys.”
The scheme is part of a programme of investment through the Department of Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund, which is working to change people’s travel habits by making it as easy as possible for people to choose low carbon options.
Officers are currently looking at possible locations for around 50 hubs, with the aim of at least one in every ward. The scheme will also see 300 parking bays across the city being installed with EV charge points provided by Gamma Energy Limited.
Over 100 of these will have rapid chargers capable of providing a typical EV with an additional 100-mile range in approximately 30 minutes.
Councillor Jonathan Drean, cabinet member for transport, added: “I am so excited that our mobility hubs are a step closer to reality.
“We have to make sustainable transport more attractive and by installing the appropriate infrastructure, we’re breaking down another barrier that might stop someone from switching to a greener alternative. We hope that having bikes for hire with a bit of added power to the pedal will entice more people to give it a go.”
