Belfast Announces Charges For Public Bike Scheme

Belfast City Council has agreed charges for Northern Ireland’s first public bike hire scheme, the pilot phase of which is to be introduced in March 2015.

The Council has also announced the locations for the 30 docking stations that will be involved in the first phase of the scheme.

Users of the scheme will be able to pay either £20 for an annual subscription or £5 for a three-day casual use pass. The first 30 minutes of each trip will be free of charge, with small incremental charges after 30 minutes.

"These charges are similar to rates in other cities and have been set at this level to make the scheme as affordable as possible to as many people as possible, as well as to encourage to make short trips by bike around the city – with the obvious health benefits which this brings, both to the individual and in terms of reducing pollution levels in the city," said Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Chair of the Council’s Development Department.

The first phase of docking stations will be located across the city, from Central Station to the Odyssey, Millfield to Carrickhill, the Gasworks to Dunbar Link. Installation is due to begin next month.

NSL has been appointed to deliver and maintain the scheme, with Nextbike providing the bicycle infrastructure and management system. The Department for Regional Development has put forward over £1m of capital funding for the public bike share scheme as part of its investment in a series of Active Travel Demonstration Projects.

Transport Minister Danny Kennedy said: "Today’s announcement is especially welcome as my Department prepares to host the 'Changing Gear' cycling seminar in Belfast which is undoubtedly the biggest cycling seminar ever held in Northern Ireland.

"My department is providing over £1m capital funding for the Belfast Bike Scheme which is an important element of the cycling revolution I want to create in Northern Ireland. As ‘pedal power’ continues to grow here we must all harness the momentum and continue to develop each opportunity to make cycling an everyday, safe, accessible and fun activity for all.

Councillor Hargey added: "As part of our £150 million Investment Programme, we have pledged to explore and invest in projects which develop our infrastructure, but also deliver benefits for neighbourhoods across the city."

(IT/MH)