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Norwich’s shared bike, e-bike and e-scooter provider, Beryl, along with scheme partners Norfolk County Council and National Grid, are celebrating a significant milestone.
Beryl vehicles have now ridden more than four million kilometres across Norwich – the equivalent of nearly 100 trips around the Earth.
According to industry calculations, the 1,364,000 journeys undertaken across Norwich have had a significant impact on regional air quality, saving nearly 183 tonnes of carbon emissions – the equivalent of nearly 90,000 litres of petrol consumption.
The scheme has also had a significant impact on reducing traffic congestion, with rider feedback showing that, on average, nearly a quarter of all Beryl journeys have replaced those that would have been taken in a car, van, taxi or motorbike.
With nearly 444,000 hours of rides, the scheme has also helped people in Norwich to increase their physical activity levels, which is proven to benefit both physical and mental health.
Phil Ellis, Beryl CEO and co-founder, said: “From speaking directly to our riders in Norwich, we know that, on average, 44% of them now cycle more often, 35% of them have reduced their use of cars and 50% have reduced their use of taxis since first using Beryl. That’s a pretty significant impact on travel behaviour.
“By offering a choice of pedal bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters, each with different benefits and appeals, we know that we’re encouraging more people to swap their private car journey for a more sustainable one.
“If you haven’t tried shared transport yet, then why not give it a go – it could revolutionise the way you travel.”
The Beryl Annual Rider Report 2023 showed an encouraging increase in the number of riders with a disability in Norwich (13%), an increase of 4% compared to 2022.
Within this segment, 81% of riders with a disability in Norwich said that Beryl vehicles have allowed them to make trips that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to make.
Funded by the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, the scheme launched on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 with bikes and e-bikes.
E-scooters were added in September 2020 as part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) e-scooter trials.
Beryl’s Norwich scheme is run in partnership with the UK’s largest electricity transmission and distribution business, National Grid, to enable more people to swap four wheels for two and travel sustainably around Norwich.
