Hub spots are revealed for Brighton and Hove's new '˜Boris bike' scheme

The £1.45 million Brighton and Hove Bike Share scheme – similar to Boris bikes in London – is set to launch in the summer, run by UK operator Hourbike.

The 430 bikes will be placed in 50 locations around the city, including Brighton Station, the Palace Pier, the i360, Hove station, Preston Park, the two universities, the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton Marina, Hove Park and Stanmer Park.

Hire costs will start from £2 per trip or £8 per day with users having the option to pay as they go on a 3p per minute tariff. There will also be a £72 annual tariff, which includes 30 minutes free use every day.

A report to Tuesday’s environment, transport and sustainability committee said of the 50 locations, nine of the spots would result in a loss of car parking spaces. These include Abbey Road in Brighton (where parking will be provided nearby), George Street in Hove, and areas in Zone N and Y.

At the meeting, Conservative councillor Tony Janio said: “I’m very pleased we are at the stage. A lot of cities in the world have these schemes and I hope it’s a success.

“My fear is that all the bikes will end up down the bottom of the hills, and then everyone will sit there and say, oh there’s no bikes at the top of the hills. People say that these private organisations all the onus is on them to get the bikes back up the hill. But no contract is fixed, and I just fear that in 18 months time after two summers worth of this the company is going to come back to us and say the model didn’t work and can we get council money to drag the bikes up the hill.”

He asked for an assurance that no council money would be spent on the scheme that had not already been allocated in the contract.

Cllr Janio added: “The problem I do have is it doesn’t have a catchy name. Where’s Boris Bikes? We have the Brighton and Hove Bike Share scheme. I think we should run a competition or something, Boaty McBoatface or something. Can we have a competition to name the scheme please?”

Chairman of the committee Cllr Gill Mitchell said: “What a lovely idea Cllr Janio but I think it merits further consideration.”