Bike Plus, an umbrella group for Britain's bike-sharing schemes, says success relies on a range of factors. For example, schemes benefit from an area with more than 50,000 homes, high employment, parking issues, a flat topography, and a favourable climate. Despite not meeting all the preferred criteria, the Glasgow scheme does appear to be successful. Edinburgh is the latest council to announce plans to introduce an on-street cycle hire scheme. Glasgow launched its public hire scheme before the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and there are now plans to double its size.
The Stirling scheme proves bike-sharing can be successful even on a smaller scale. Corporate memberships have been key to the Stirling Nextbike scheme, which has 160 bikes. The community project, led by Forth Environment Link and funded by Transport Scotland, has buy-in from local organisations. Stirling University and Forth Valley College both pay an annual fee, which allows students and staff to get free membership. Graham McQueen, of Forth Environment Link, says it is the fastest growing scheme in the UK.
Chinese company Ofo has plans to start a scheme in Cambridge from 3rd of April, described as the "Uber for bikes". Under this system, there are no docking stations and instead there is an app to find a nearby bike, with no need for users to plan when and where to leave it.
Bike Plus hopes to introduce a new accreditation scheme to ensure certain standards for safety and environmental practices are met. Despite the challenges, the benefits of these schemes may prevent any back-pedalling just yet.
A recent survey by Bike Plus found that bike-sharing schemes helped people become healthier, and cities less clogged. It suggested that 13% of people began cycling because of the scheme, and 37% increased the amount they cycled. The schemes also encouraged more women to cycle.
Full article can be found here
The Stirling scheme proves bike-sharing can be successful even on a smaller scale. Corporate memberships have been key to the Stirling Nextbike scheme, which has 160 bikes. The community project, led by Forth Environment Link and funded by Transport Scotland, has buy-in from local organisations. Stirling University and Forth Valley College both pay an annual fee, which allows students and staff to get free membership. Graham McQueen, of Forth Environment Link, says it is the fastest growing scheme in the UK.
Chinese company Ofo has plans to start a scheme in Cambridge from 3rd of April, described as the "Uber for bikes". Under this system, there are no docking stations and instead there is an app to find a nearby bike, with no need for users to plan when and where to leave it.
Bike Plus hopes to introduce a new accreditation scheme to ensure certain standards for safety and environmental practices are met. Despite the challenges, the benefits of these schemes may prevent any back-pedalling just yet.
A recent survey by Bike Plus found that bike-sharing schemes helped people become healthier, and cities less clogged. It suggested that 13% of people began cycling because of the scheme, and 37% increased the amount they cycled. The schemes also encouraged more women to cycle.
Full article can be found here
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