News / cycling
Big Issue e-bike rental scheme ready to roll into Bristol
When Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock won the cyclo-cross world championship title in Arkansas on Sunday, he crossed the finishing line in a Superman pose.
Pidcock should be taken to Bristol to help add some style to the Big Issue’s new hire e-bike scheme, because despite the first of the white and red bicycles now in place across the city, their arrival has been remarkably low key.
On Monday, the bikes were unable to be hired but the app could already be downloaded; with Bristol becoming the first city in the UK with the Big Issue scheme just under a year since YoBike quietly withdrew their bikes from circulation.
is needed now More than ever
Like YoBike, the Big Issue scheme is dockless – which could well prove problematic with Voi hire e-scooters already taking up much valuable pavement real estate.
Choose pay as you go for a flat fee of 50p when you begin your ride and then 20p a minute; or subscribe for £19.95 per month, getting the first ten minutes of every ride free and then being charged 20p per minute after that. Both ride plans’ daily costs are capped at £12.
When the official launch comes soon, bikes will be unlocked by scanning a QR code, with every vehicle having an individual name.
A look at those located in the Big Issue’s Bonnington Road depot in Brislington on Monday evening showed names including Aaliyah, Fahed, Jack, Lola and Mateo.
On the map at that time, there were around half a dozen bikes in locations including Deanery Road next to Central Library, on North Street outside Bristol Beer Factory, on Lovers Walk near Redland train station, and on the corner of Gloucester Road and Elton Road.
The area of the Big Issue scheme stretches from Dundry in the south, to Warmley and Emersons Green in the east, to Severn Beach in the north, with the Bristol Channel being the westernmost boundary.
Bristol is the first city in the UK to get a Big Issue e-bike hire scheme – map: Big Issue
The hire scheme has been created in partnership with Norwegian firm ShareBike and aims to encourage active travel in Bristol while also tackling unemployment.
The Big Issue has said that said it will recruit and retrain people who were previously unemployed and support them back into work to run the programme, with a team of ten employees at the Bristol hub in Brislington.
There will soon be 420 white and red bikes in Bristol. Superman poses optional.
There will soon be more than 400 red and white bikes on the streets of Bristol – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: YoBikes no longer available for hire in Bristol
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