New bikes and docking points for e-bike scheme

The Leeds City Bikes rental scheme launched in September 2023

More than 250 new e-bikes and 15 extra docking stations are to be added to the Leeds City Bikes scheme.

First launched in September 2023, the "Beryl Bikes" rental scheme has been used by 22,000 riders to make more than 120,000 journeys across the city.

From Tuesday, new docking stations will be available in places including Roundhay and Oakwood and 265 lightweight bikes added to the fleet, meanwhile, a further 10 docking stations which had been suspended will be reopened.

Phil Ellis, chief executive at Beryl, said the firm was "thrilled" to be expanding the scheme across the city.

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said the new "BBE2" bikes were "lighter and easier to lock and unlock" and came with an increased range of up to 50 miles (80km).

Jonathan Pryor, the council's deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said he hoped the new e-bikes would "provide commuters and leisure travellers more options to choose sustainable and active travel for their journeys".

"I live in the north of Leeds and I'm excited for the expansion further to the north where the scheme has been welcomed as a convenient and accessible travel option for many," he said.

"The more riders we create, the more we can reduce congestion, improve air quality, and support the city's ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030."

A number of docking stations have been suspended since the scheme launched, however, as a result of vandalism.

The council said it was hoping to reopen ten of the damaged docking stations but said a final decision had not yet been taken as to whether the other suspended stations would reopen.

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