Council to bring e-bike hire scheme to Stoke-on-Trent

Council leaders plan to bring an e-bike hire scheme to Stoke-on-Trent. Stoke-on-Trent City Council wants to procure an external provider to hire out electrically assisted bikes for journeys across the city.

Similar schemes, run by providers such as Lime and Beryl, are already running in many cities and towns in the UK, including London, Manchester and Nottingham. Council chiefs believe e-bike hire will help improve connectivity in Stoke-on-Trent while cutting traffic congestion and improving air quality.

The scheme would be run as a concession, with the provider taking on operational and commercial responsibilities, and the council ensuring it meets safety and performance standards. Around 800 to 1,000 e-bikes could be available for hire across the city.

According to a council report, the scheme will be designed to ensure the 'public highways and public rights of passage are protected', with suitable parking arrangements to minimise obstruction - bikes being carelessly dumped on pavements has been a common problem with existing schemes.

The report state: "By offering a publicly accessible e-bike hire scheme, the council aims to create a step-change in how people move around the city, supporting a more sustainable, inclusive and efficient local transport system."

The council is not planning to provide an ongoing subsidy to the provider, which will be selected through a competitive procurement process and will be expected to run a commercially sustainable service. No provider is mentioned by name in the report, but it says they will need to be a 'suitably experienced operator'.

E-bike hire schemes typically run on a pay-as-you-go basis, with a small unlock fee and a per-minute charge for registered users.

Cabinet members will be asked to give the proposals the green light when they meet on Tuesday.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said: "I welcome the development of proposals to introduce an e-bike hire scheme in Stoke-on-Trent. This initiative has the potential to provide residents and visitors with a convenient, affordable and sustainable travel option, whilst supporting our wider ambitions to increase active travel and improve connectivity across the city.

"The proposal aligns strongly with the council's priorities of creating a healthier standard of living for all our citizens, conserving our environment and living more sustainably, and tackling inequality and improving life chances for everyone. By providing an alternative to short car journeys, the scheme has the potential to support healthier lifestyles, improve access to opportunities and contribute towards a cleaner and more sustainable transport network."

The council expects that the scheme will be up and running by next summer.

According to the report, the five-year contract for the concession could be worth around 5 million to the operator. A revenue-sharing arrangement could provide an income to the council, offsetting its administration costs.

The contract will include a requirement to manage user behaviour, such as through the use of 'geo-fencing', which would prevent e-bikes being used outside designated areas, and sanctions for repeated misuse.

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