Docking stations installed for e-bike scheme

Docking bays for a bike hire scheme are being installed at city centre locations in Bradford ahead of the official launch next week.

The LNER Bradford Beryl Bikes scheme will go live from Tuesday and will enable people to hire e-bikes from various locations across the city and return them to other docking bays.

In total there will be around 200 e-bikes and at least 41 docking station hubs in the district.

The scheme is being funded in part by £800,000 of Clean Air Zone revenue, with the majority of the funding coming from scheme operator Beryl.

Although details of the bike hub locations are not being revealed until next week, some of the docking sites have already been fitted, including one in Norfolk Gardens, near Hall Ings pocket park, and another on Broadway, near to the Broadway Shopping Centre.

The roll out of the service will see a new app launched, which will allow people to pay for bike hire and get details of all the bike hub locations via their phones.

First announced in 2024, he scheme was initially due to begin in Spring 2025 in time for Bradford's City of Culture year.

However, the council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service last year it had been delayed.

In December they announced the contract for the scheme has been awarded to Beryl – described as "the UK's largest shared sustainable transport provider".

The operator said on its website the Bradford scheme would "open up the whole city" for riders to explore.

"Our electric shared bikes take the hard work out of climbing hills or covering longer distances, helping you get to the office, campus, the shops, or a meet-up with ease.

"It's a faster, cleaner and surprisingly fun way to move around."

The council said the firm would also provide an on-street team to look after the bikes, including maintaining them and changing batteries.

"They are the eyes and ears of the project on the ground, reporting any issues or antisocial behaviour," it added.

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