Budget cuts threaten chances of reviving Edinburgh’s cycle hire scheme
Hopes of reviving a cycle hire scheme for Edinburgh may be dashed by the huge cuts the council has to make in next year’s budget. Officials have recommended dropping plans to investigate options to bring back a bike scheme following the collapse of the previous one and reallocating money which had been set aside.
However it will be up to councillors to decide and costed options for the reintroduction of a cycle hire scheme are expected to be made available for the different parties to consider as part of the budget process. But all the political groups are acutely conscious that the council will have to save nearly £80 million from next year’s spending plans.
Edinburgh’s cycle hire scheme was launched in 2018. Sponsored by Just Eat and operated by Serco, it was designed to be self-financing and attracted over 70,000 users. During Covid it became the fastest growing scheme in britain. but at the end of the contract in 2021, when the potential for a four-year extension came up, serco said it could not continue under the existing arrangements. major problems with theft and vandalism had greatly increased the costs of running the scheme.
Scrappinganyfurtherinvestigationofapossiblerevivalofthe scheme would save £500,000 in 2023/24 and 2024/25 and a further £200,000 in 2025/26.‘Substantial private sponsorship will be needed’
Labour transport convener Scott Arthur said: “Since becoming transport and environment convener in mayi have spent sometime thinking about why Edinburgh’s cycle hire scheme failed so catastrophically, and what makes them such a success elsewhere. I’m keen to reintroduce a scheme to Edinburgh and that we use it to get residents more active, and connect tourists to businesses and attractions. The challenge we face, however, is that each of the options I have considered would need non-trivial levels of public subsidy.
“In the coming weeks I will publish costed proposals and I hope to be able to work with all of Edinburgh’s political parties to agree a way forward. Given thecutsthesnp/greengovernment is forcing on Edinburgh, however, it is clear to me that substantial private sponsorship will be needed to ensure the success of any scheme .”
Green finance spokesperson Alys Mumford said she was surprised officers were recommending cutting further work on a cycle hire scheme. “It’s something we hear all the time that people in Edinburgh want. It’s embarrassing we don’t have a cycle hire scheme, as a big city and a city that says it aspires to be a cycling-friendly city.”
She said when it came to the budget the Greens would be looking to invest in active travel. “Investing in cycling is going to be a key part of what we do and we’ve been pushing for there to be a replacement for the cycle hire scheme for a long time. The last time it was hoped it would be selffinancing, but now we’re faced with the council having to put money in. I think that’s a very worthwhile thing for the council to be doing.”‘the Government is slashing the council budget by tens of millions’
SNP leader Adam Mcvey said his group had not yet taken any position on the budget but pointed out the lasts np-led administration had set money aside for a new cycle hire scheme.