Plug pulled on e-bike scheme due to funding issues

The e-bikes are now in storage

Hundreds of electric bikes which were made available for hire on the streets of Aberdeen have been removed after the scheme's operator pulled out.

The distinctive white and red bikes were launched in November 2022 in a partnership between the Big Issue Group (BIG) and Norwegian mobility firm Sharebike.

They were available to hire via an app.

BIG, whose involvement was aimed at helping bring marginalised people into work, said Sharebike had pulled out due to problems attracting funding, as well as the bikes suffering vandalism.

The bike scheme had the support of Aberdeen City Council

In a statement, BIG's Paul Cheal said: “We hoped that the first scheme in Bristol might lead to a nationwide roll-out but this launch was scuppered by vandalism and so the e-bikes were moved to Aberdeen.

"While this also saw some vandalism, unfortunately attracting ongoing funding has proved problematic and ShareBike have decided that the scheme is not financially viable."

Three members of staff are potentially affected and BIG said it was offering them assistance.

The bikes are currently being kept at in a depot.

Aberdeen City Council, which issued the contract, said it had been informed that Sharebike wished to pull out of the contract, and said it was working with them to engage a new private company to take over the contract.