Published on Thursday 10 September 2020
A key component of BCP Council’s Transforming Cities Fund bid will be rolled out today, as Beryl Bikes arrive in Christchurch. The British-owned bike share scheme will offer safe, reliable and enjoyable sustainable travel for residents of the conurbation.
The Beryl Bikes service area has today been expanded and 275 new Beryl Bikes will be available to hire at 50 new Beryl Bays in Christchurch, via the free to download Beryl app. The extension of the Bournemouth and Poole scheme to Christchurch comes at a time when 40,000 people have ridden Beryl Bikes and over 200,000 journeys have been completed since the scheme’s launch last June.
Surveys conducted by BCP Council show 20% of journeys taken by Beryl Bike would have otherwise been made by car, a promising behavioural shift from residents and visitors to the area to take greener trips.
The launch event took place at Highcliffe Castle, shortly before it re-opens for tourists and visitors, at their newly established Beryl Bay.
Katie Ingham Heritage Team leader at Highcliffe Castle said: " We are excited to be able to host two Beryl Bike Bays here at Highcliffe Castle. This will give our visitors greater travel flexibility, and the opportunity to visit the Castle and surrounding areas in a green, healthy and sustainable way."
Those in Christchurch will be able to hire a bike through the Beryl app, available for free download on the App Store for iOS, and the Google Play Store for Android users. The bikes can be picked up and dropped off in marked ‘Beryl Bays’ that have been selected and approved in conjunction with local authorities to ensure the scheme is in line with the needs of the community. Bays will be visible both in app and on the street.
Councillor Viki Slade, Leader of the BCP Council said, "I’m delighted about the bike share extension into Christchurch. We want people to be able to have far more choice about their local transport options, and these new bikes and convenient new bays will really help people to access cycling much more easily than before, particularly if you don’t own a bike, Beryl is a fantastic option."
Beryl CEO Phillip Ellis said: "The success of our bike share scheme in Bournemouth and Poole has far exceeded people’s expectations. We’ve been delighted to have provided such an affordable, flexible and enjoyable micromobility system that now moves into the town of Christchurch creating an integrated sustainable transport network throughout the area.
"BCP Council’s most recent travel survey showed that Christchurch had the highest percentage of people cycling weekly so we know the appetite within the area is there and look forward to providing residents with a convenient bike share scheme."
Riders will have a payment choice of Pay-As-You-Ride (£1 unlock fee + 5p per minute), Minute Bundles (no unlock fee and bundles starting at 100 minutes for £5) or Day Passes (24 hours of unlimited riding for £12). Once their ride is complete, riders simply close the lock on the bike to complete their ride and to make it available for the next person to use. Trips ending outside of a Beryl Bay will be charged a £2 fee to encourage responsible parking.