bikes

Co bikes sharing scheme returns to Exeter

Electric bike stations will re-open at both Streatham and St Luke’s campuses.

Sep 10, 2019 – by Luke Masters

Exeter’s electric bike hire scheme will return across the city, just in time for the beginning of the new university term.

Co Bikes, which launched initially in 2016, will be operating across Exeter from 10 September, offering all residents the ability to rent bikes for £1 for 20 minutes through the Nextbike app.

Two stations were reopened from 23 August in order to test the service ahead of a city-wide re-launch event on 10 September. Just under 100 bikes will be rolled out to 14 stations around the city.

Co Bikes [offer] all residents the ability to rent bikes for £1 for 20 minutes

Initially, there will be stations at both the Streatham and St Luke’s campuses, as well as twelve others throughout Exeter, with plans for further expansion in the future. The return of the service to the city centre will allow residents the opportunity to use and return bikes to any Co Bikes station, whilst also reducing congestion and pollution.

As a part of its Sustainable Travel Plan, the University has already partnered with Co Cars to make 3 hybrid vehicles available to staff, offering more sustainable travel for both work-related and personal use.

More information is available at www.co-bikes.co.uk.

Electric bike scheme arrives on campus

A new self-service electric bike hire scheme called Co-bikes has been launched in Exeter.

Functioning like Santander Cycles in London (more commonly referred to as ‘Boris Bikes’), the scheme allows for bikes to be hired and dropped-off in various locations around Exeter. So far, there are docking stations at the University of Exeter (outside the Forum), Exeter Central Station, and Sowton Park-and Ride, with each dock holding between four and eight bikes.

Members can pay as little as 75p for a 30-minute journey, whereas non-members would pay a minimum of £1.50. A membership costs £60 annually.

The system utilises mobile app technology, allowing members to hire bikes on a pay-as-you-go basis, 24/7. The bikes last for an average of 40-60 miles of power-assisted pedalling, and can reach a maximum speed of 15mph.

The initiative was created by Exeter-based not-for-proﬁt co-operative, Cocars, who offer hire-by-the-hour vehicles throughout the South West , linking Exeter to areas like Salisbury and Dorchester.

The company have plans to add docking stations at the Civic Centre and the County Hall later this year, building up to a total of eight sites in Exeter by mid-2017. Co-bikes is also a member of
the nextbike network, a worldwide project which has UK schemes in cities across the country, from Glasgow to Milton Keynes.

The University’s Travel Plan Coordinator, Joel Smith, explained: “We wanted to provide our staff, students and visitors with a sustainable and affordable way to get around the city.”

Devon County Council partially funded the scheme, which was also supported by a variety of companies and institutions, including the Department of Transport, Exeter City Council and the University of Exeter.

Exeter to receive electric cycles to hire

xeter is to receive electric bicycles as part of a cycle-hire scheme being rolled out across the country, aimed at making cycling more accessible.

The battery-assisted pedalling of the ‘e-bikes’ will make it easier for those who wish to cycle more, but are usually deterred by Exeter’s more hilly routes.

First Great Western and cycle hire scheme ‘Netbike’ have teamed up for the project in Exeter, and 22 electrically assisted pedal cycles will be delivered to business parks and train stations.

Commuter cycle-hubs at railways stations and park and rides, a hilly campus university, and a tourist hire scheme on the Isle of Wight were all winners of the £700,000 scheme announced by Transport Minister Andrew Jones today.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “Electric bikes are a great way to encourage new people to get into cycling and today’s announcement will provide an opportunity for thousands more to enjoy the advantages they offer.

“Cycling helps cut congestion and is a healthy, affordable transport option.”

The scheme is the latest announcement backing the governments promise to double the number of cycle journeys by encouraging all ages and abilities to cycle more.

The winning schemes will offer a number of opportunities to hire the e-bikes, devised by local organisations across the country.

Tourists and less frequent riders can hire the e-bikes for one off sessions, and more regular cyclists can register with local car clubs to use the cycles for less than £1 an hour.

Alistair Kirkbride, director of Carplus, an organisation that will assist with many of the successful e-bike schemes country-wide, said: “Riding an electric bike is like cycling with the wind behind you. Electric bikes have been shown to encourage more people to cycle more often.

“By supporting electric cycles in shared bike networks it will enable a greater number of people to enjoy the benefits in more locations.”