Bike hire firm clocks up new record month in cycle boom
● 1,600 hires in a day as people make the most of quieter streets
Nearly 1,600 hires were recorded by Just Eat Cycles for a single day in Edinburgh as the lockdown cycling boom reaches a new peak.
Managers have hailed the “phenomenal usage” of the scheme as people take advantage of the Scottish capital’s quieter streets.
The company set a new record on Wednesday, with 1,589 trips taken by more than 1,100 riders.
This month has also been Just Eat Cycles’ busiest to date, with the number of people using the scheme nearly doubling to 6,400.
Total trips this year have reached 63,000, which is already half the number taken last year, with more than 200,000 expected by December.
The scheme, which was launched in September 2018, has 550 bikes for hire across the city and more than 70 electric bikes.
General manager Alex Macdonald said: “We are extremely encouraged that around 25 per cent of all of our trips over the last few weeks have been from key worker stations, including the Western General Hospital and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
“We have been ensuring all bikes leave our depot with touch points properly sanitised.
“All drivers are wearing appropriate PPE to protect themselves and others.
“We continue to rely on customers to use the bikes responsibly.”
Mr Macdonald said all 100 free NHS passes, made available with cycling developers Sustrans, had been allocated.
Just Eat Cycles is run by Serco on behalf of Edinburgh City Council-run Transport for Edinburgh.
Council transport convener Lesley Macinnes said: “It is clear there has been a significant change in travel habits over recent weeks, as these figures demonstrate.
“We’ve seen a real and welcome surge in cycling, both through the city’s cycle hire scheme and in those who own, or have decided to buy, bikes.
“What we need to do now is harness this enthusiasm by putting in place infrastructure that helps people feel safe to cycle as restrictions are eased and road traffic increases.”
Forthbikes,whichrentselectric
bikes in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire, said total miles cycled by its riders had quadrupled from its previous peak last July to nearly 12,000 in April. Forth Environment Link, which runs the scheme, expects the total will increase further this month. It said membership since the lockdown started in March had increased by 902 to 3,054.