Expansion of bike rental scheme in city
BIKE share company nextbike has announced an expansion of its bike rental fleet across Glasgow. The company will add 16 new stations and 160 extra bikes available for rental over the next year to add to the already-popular scheme.
Since launching in 2014, nextbike have installed 90 bike docking stations and 770 bikes throughout Glasgow.
Krysia Solheim, nextbike UK managing director, said: “We’re delighted to be introducing these new bikes to the Glasgow fleet, especially in the year that COP26 take place in the city and the focus turns to halting climate change.
“Our Glaswegian customers have hit an incredible milestone with 1.25 million rentals, and we hope more people continue to choose to hop on a nextbike instead of jumping in the car to get around Glasgow.
“It’s the individual choices that we all make like this every day that can add up to having a huge impact on CO2 levels, not to mention the mental and physical health benefits that come with cycling.”
The new locations for docking stations will include Cathcart Railway Station, Corkerhill Railway Station, Maryland Drive, Pollokshields East Railway Station, Mount Vernon Rail, Riddrie South, Maryhill Library, Anniesland Library, Gorbals Library and Pollok Roundabout.
Nextbike has said that the new stations will help to offer the service to more people outwith the city centre area.
Krysia said: “We’re excited to be expanding our network of stations into areas that previously haven’t had direct access to a station.
“We’re keen to ensure that as the fleet grows, it is as inclusive as possible and doesn’t just service the city centre.”
Funding for the new bikes and stations has come from Glasgow Glasgow City Council as part of their investment into making the city carbon-neutral by 2030.
Andy Waddell, director of operations for Glasgow City Council, said: “Glasgow’s cycle hire scheme is a huge ongoing success and has played a major role in supporting the growing interest in active travel across the city.
“This latest investment means that we will surpass the original target of 1000 bikes at 100 Nextbike stations well ahead of time and give us a great platform to build a city-wide network.
“This phase of the programme ensures that hire bikes will be seen in many areas of Glasgow for the first time and will help to make cycling a more accessible travel option in an increasingly diverse range of communities within the city.
“Getting more people on a bike on a more regular basis is essential if we are to achieve Glasgow’s target of carbon neutrality by 2030. The cycle hire scheme therefore has a vital role to play in the city’s effort to tackle the current climate crisis.”