Cycle hire scheme rides into Stourbridge
The West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme has been rolled out in Stourbridge with people being invited to enjoy their first 30-minute bike ride for free from today.
Bike stands have been installed in and around Stourbridge town centre as part of the scheme, which is already up and running in other areas of the region including Wolverhampton and Coventry.
Distinctive grey and green bikes are available with docking stations at key sites including Stourbridge Bus Station, near The Bonded Warehouse and in the town centre.
The scheme will offer more people the opportunity to enjoy cycling by providing a convenient alternative to the car or public transport for shorter journeys.
The bikes can be hired using the Beryl Cycle Hire app, which will include Covid safety advice. To receive the free 30-minute offer people need to download the app and register their details.
Later this year, the bikes will also be available via the new Swift App. This will be the first app for the West Midlands to offer ticket purchases, the Swift Collector, departure information, journey planning, car hire and more, all in one place.
It costs £1 to unlock a bike and 5p per minute after that - this means a 20-minute cycle will cost £2 and an hour £4.
Balvinder Heran, Deputy Chief Executive at Dudley Council, said:
We are very pleased to see the bike scheme in place in Stourbridge and about how the scheme could expand over time.
By cycling and walking more often we can all play our part in reducing congestion and local levels of pollution as well as helping to keep ourselves fit and active.
The cycle hire scheme has been delivered by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), to encourage more people to become active and healthy and offer a convenient and more environmentally-friendly alternative to the car for shorter journeys.
When fully rolled-out later this year, there will be 170 fixed docking stations and 1,500 bikes for hire across the region - of which 150 will be powered e-bikes.
The pedal cycles have three gears to cope with hilly parts of the region and are fitted with high quality laser safety lights.
The five-year contract with Serco, the operator of London’s successful Santander Cycle Hire scheme, offers the opportunity for more docks and bikes to be provided as demand increases.
The bikes are made by Pashley’s in Stratford-upon Avon and the docking stations and locks are also manufactured in the West Midlands.
More details online at WMCycleHire.co.uk and on social media: @wmcyclehire #wmcyclehire