City cycle hire scheme goes from strength to strength

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Nextbike in Bath cycle hire scheme has seen substantial growth since its introduction last year by the Liberal Democrats. It has proved a great success with residents and visitors alike. The success of this scheme is in marked contrast to the complete failure of a scheme put in place by the previous Conservative administration.

A key difference is that whereas the Tory scheme only had 4 stations The Next bike scene started with ‘stations’ located at nine key points around the city, the bikes have been ideal for people wishing to substitute the car for shorter journeys while also enabling visitors to get to Bath’s most popular attractions just a few minutes ride away. Since launch, over 7,000 journeys have been made by Nextbikes and the demand has been such that now three new stations are also being installed to boost the number of bikes available to 130.

I am delighted that the new administration is continuing with the good work they inherited from the Liberal Democrats. These three new stations were agreed before the elections and so I hope that yet more stations will be added to continue to grow the network especially by spreading it outside of the city of Bath.

Registration for Nextbike can be done via phone, mobile app or internet, and with hire charges from as low as £1 for 30 minutes, it’s a competitive alternative to the car or bus. For more information visit www.nextbike.co.uk.

Nextbike stations are installed at the following locations:

· Green Park Road
· Orange Grove
· Bath Spa railway station
· Sydney Place (Holburne Museum)
· Royal United Hospital
· Bath Spa University Newton St Loe campus (2 stations)
· Bath Spa University Sion Hill campus
· Charlotte Street car park
· Newbridge Marina/Caravan Park
· UNITE student apartments Lower Bristol Road
· Moorland Road
· Opening in the Autumn: Newbridge Park & Ride.