The UK’s largest docked bike-share scheme outside of London will launch in the West Midlands later this year.
The first 2,000 bikes will become operational from September across Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.
The remaining 3,000 bikes will be rolled out in areas including Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Solihull during 2019 – meaning each of the local authorities who are part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) will be part of the scheme.
Docking stations will be located around key sites in the towns and cities involved, with bikes available 24 hours a day. Annual membership to the scheme will cost £30 per year, meaning riders can access the bikes for as little as 8p per day.
The scheme, organised by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), will be delivered by the world’s biggest bike-share operator, nextbike.
Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Cycling has an important role to play in tackling issues such as congestion, air pollution and health so I am really pleased we’ve reached the stage of announcing who will run the scheme in the West Midlands from September.
“Here in the West Midlands, our public transport is currently undergoing a revolution with new Metro extensions, plans to reopen rail routes and transform existing stations and new rapid transit bus services.
“The bike-share scheme will help support this, giving people options to use sustainable transport as part or all of their journey.”
Cllr Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council and WMCA portfolio holder for transport, said: “Cities and towns across Europe have schemes such as this as a way to cut congestion and drive up participation in cycling.
“It’s high time we had a similar thing in the West Midlands and I am delighted that Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Coventry will be the first places to see the bikes in action.”
Comment on this story