The West Midlands is set to benefit from a new bike-share scheme, with the University of Birmingham providing a home for several stations. The scheme, which will be the UK's largest docked bike-share scheme outside London was announced this week by Transport for West Midlands, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The bike-share scheme will be piloted on campus
The West Midlands is set to benefit from a new bike-share scheme, with the University of Birmingham providing a home for several stations.
The scheme, which will be the UK’s largest docked bike-share scheme outside London was announced this week by Transport for West Midlands, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The University is a pilot site for the wider scheme, which will be run by nextbike, having carried out considerable feasibility work in this area. This means that staff and students will receive free trial memberships in exchange for their feedback when the scheme launches.
Director of Hospitality and Accommodation Services Stuart Richards said: “We are delighted to support the rollout of this scheme, and very proud to have been selected as a pilot site. When surveyed, 88% of staff and students say they would love to see a scheme like this on campus, so I am thrilled we’ve been able to work with WMCA to make this happen. As an institution, we are dedicated to improving our sustainability, and this is one step onward in that journey.”
The first phase of bikes will hit the streets in September this year, with 2,000 installed across Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton. A further 3,000 bikes will be rolled out in phases to include Walsall, Dudley and Solihull in 2019.
Docking stations will be located around key sites in a variety of locations, with bikes available 24 hours a day. Annual membership will cost just £30 per year, meaning riders can access the bikes for as little as 8p a day.
The installation of a bike share scheme further improves the University’s sustainable travel options for staff and students which already includes long term bike hire, an ongoing programme of cycle parking improvement, a car sharing system and a significant discount for staff on bus travel.
For further information, please contact Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Manager Sally Xerri-Brooks on +44 (0)121 414 3984
