Belfast Bikes is celebrating a record-breaking year following the rollout of electric bikes across its fleet.

Belfast City Council, which manages the scheme, reports that users completed more than 170,000 journeys over the past 12 months, after appointing new operator Beryl in September 2025.

With 100 state-of-the-art e-bikes and 300 additional pedal bikes joining the network, riders have covered in excess of 440,000 kilometres, avoiding an estimated 17 tonnes of carbon emissions and amassing 52,000 hours of physical activity.

August 2026 was the scheme's busiest month on record, with 29,211 trips taken across the Frank & Honest Coffee-sponsored network, underscoring rising demand for affordable, accessible and sustainable transport options in the city.

April, May and June each recorded their strongest performance in five years, while 86% of all registered users used the scheme regularly.

Marking World Car-Free Day on Tuesday 22 September, Beryl urged more commuters, students and tourists to swap four wheels for two, offering 25 per cent off student bundles for those returning to university this month and introducing a new 'group rides' feature for friends and family. Phil Ellis, CEO with Beryl, said: "World Car-Free Day is the perfect opportunity to think differently about how we move around the city and the impact our travel choices have on our health, our environment and congestion on our roads.

"The success of Belfast Bikes over the past year demonstrates that, when people are given a reliable, affordable and accessible alternative, they are willing to make more sustainable travel choices, and their positive contribution really does make a difference to our city.

"We're proud to work with the council to offer the city's only publicly supported bike sharing scheme, providing a dependable and accessible way to travel around the city from our dedicated network of 60 docking stations, where you can securely stow each bike after use to help keep streets free from obstructions, including our latest docks at Grand Central Station and Loftlines in the Titanic Quarter.

"Our introduction of pay-as-you-go pricing, which includes a small unlock fee and a straightforward per-minute charge which reduces the more you use the bikes, has also proven popular with users, with journeys starting from just 7p per minute for pedal bikes and 14p per minute for e-bikes, while our minute packages are valid from 30 days through to a whole year.

"This makes Belfast Bikes the best value for money option for those commuting to work, studying, meeting friends or simply exploring Belfast."

For more information on Belfast Bikes, including tariffs, membership options and docking station locations, visit belfastbikes.co.uk or follow @belfastbikes on Instagram and @belfastbikescheme on Facebook.