A new bike and e-bike sharing and rental scheme has been launched across Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
Solent Transport, a partnership of local government transport bodies, alongside councils partners and bike operator Beryl Bikes, developed the new scheme, which was implemented to offer residents more convenient access to bicycles.
The initiative, named ‘Beryl Bikes by Breeze’, means that e-bikes and pedal bikes are now available for hire across Portsmouth, Southampton and on the Isle of Wight.
‘Beryl Bikes by Breeze’ is part of the Solent Future Transport Zone, funded by the Department for Transport, with the hope of both reducing congestion and carbon emissions, while also improving air quality and encouraging active travel and its associated health benefits.
Some 200 pedal bikes and 235 e-bikes will be available initially, with this number reportedly increasing to a fleet of more than 1,000 bikes across the region by spring 2023.
An accompanying micromobility app, named Breeze, will support riders to hire a bike and was developed by Solent Transport. Breeze also facilitates the hire of Voi e-scooters and can help users plan journeys on buses and trains across south Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
According to Portsmouth City Council, there are plans to expand the remit of the app to include the purchase of bus, rail and ferry tickets.
As the initiative grows, the majority of the people living in the operating area will be within a five-minute walk of a rental station, the council has said.
Both pedal bikes and e-bikes are available for everyone aged 16 and above.
Lynne Stagg, councillor and chair of the Solent Transport Joint Committee and cabinet member for traffic and transportation, said: “As we face a global climate emergency, it’s more important than ever that our residents have access to more sustainable ways to travel.
“We are delighted to be able to launch the scheme across three key areas in the Solent.
“We want to make cycling as easy and accessible for as many of our residents as possible.
“Beryl Bikes by Breeze will not only help protect the natural environment but encourage people to get active and even save money at a time when fuel is so expensive”.
Once registered with the app, users can pick up and drop off bikes.
Beryl Bikes by Breeze users can pay as you go for rides, which involves a £1 unlock fee and 5p per minute for bikes, or £1.50 unlock fee and 10p per minute fare for e-bikes.
According to Beryl, it has equipped all of its bikes with GPS tracking to help it monitor misuse, vandalism and vehicles leaving the operation zone.
The bikes are fully insured through Beryl’s public liability insurance, including the costs of bike hire.
