Expansion for city's bike sharing scheme

Dozens more bikes are set to be rolled out in the west of the city, as part of the BTN Bikeshare scheme.
BTN Bikeshare (Photograph: David McHugh/Brighton Pictures)BTN Bikeshare (Photograph: David McHugh/Brighton Pictures)
BTN Bikeshare (Photograph: David McHugh/Brighton Pictures)

And new hubs will be created in Preston Street, Connaught Road, New Church Road/Pembroke Gardens and Portland Road.

Brighton and Hove City Council said 120 bikes would be added to the 450 already out on the city’s streets.

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The scheme launched in Spetmber last year, and has already seen 35,000 subscribers and 213,000 rentals recorded at the end of May.

The Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, which part-funded start-up costs along with the council, agreed to the purchase of an additional 120 bikes to enable the scheme to expand west to Boundary Road.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the city’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “Bike share is proving more and more popular as a way of getting from A to B quickly and easily. Residents living in the west of the city have been asking the council when they will get hubs in their area, so we’re delighted to be able to expand the scheme and encourage even more people to cycle for their journeys around the city.”

Tim Caswell, managing director of Hourbike, the company operating the scheme, said: “We’re thrilled to be expanding BTN BikeShare deeper into West Hove. Thanks to the ongoing support from Brighton and Hove City Council we will have an additional 120 bikes in circulation, allowing us to service even more residents, commuters and visitors without impacting the availability of the bikes elsewhere in the city.”

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A further two sites are planned for New Church Road/Boundary Road and Portland Road outside St Peter’s Church, plus three more at locations yet to be chosen.

The council said further expansion has also not been ruled out and the option to expand further north and east of the city will be explored.

An update report will be presented to councillors at the environment, transport and sustainability committee next Tuesday (June 26).

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