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A new e-bike share scheme has hit the streets of Stevenage, boosting access to sustainable transport and contributing towards cutting traffic congestion, while boosting air quality and public health.
Operated by UK-based shared sustainable transport providers, Beryl, in partnership with Stevenage Borough Council, the scheme comprises 150 e-bikes available to hire from a network of 45 Beryl Bays.
The scheme will be operated by Beryl on behalf of the council and has been funded in part by funding awarded to Stevenage in 2021 as part of UK government’s Towns Fund, through the Stevenage Development Board, as well as contributions from developers as part of Section 106 agreements.
Beryl CEO and co-founder Phil Ellis, said: “We’ve operated bike share schemes in Hertfordshire for nearly five years and will use that knowledge and experience to make this scheme as accessible, easy-to-use and convenient as possible.
“We hope that, from the launch, the scheme will encourage as many people as possible in Stevenage to adopt more sustainable long-term transport habits.”
The latest annual Beryl Rider Report, a survey of thousands of Beryl users across several schemes undertaken in summer 2023, showed that Beryl e-bikes have a positive impact on lapsed cyclists.
Of all e-bike riders asked, 21% said they had used Beryl e-bikes to ride for the first time after a long break (five years or more) from cycling, while 19% said they had used them to ride for the first time after a short break (one to four years) from cycling.
A further 3% said Beryl e-bikes had encouraged them to cycle for the first time ever.
The report also showed that 56% of e-bike riders said they cycled more often or much more often since using Beryl e-bikes.
Adrian Hawkins OBE, chair of the Stevenage Development Board, added: “We are very proud of this scheme as it not only shows that Stevenage has an eye on providing future solutions for our residents, but it is also a nod to just how well thought out the town was at its inception.
“Our cycle network is one of the key elements which has set Stevenage new town apart from other developments and with this new scheme we show that people can both commute and also undertake leisure activities in a modern way that highlights our future transport needs are a top priority.”
Beryl currently operates hire schemes nearby in both Watford (200 bikes/100 e-bikes, launched March 2020) and Hertsmere (40 bikes/20 e-bikes, launched October 2022).
Since those schemes were introduced, they have produced a combined 527,000 sustainable journeys across more than 1.4m km, generating nearly 200,000 hours of physical activity.
According to industry calculations, they have saved nearly 55 tonnes of carbon emissions.
