Reading ReadyBike hire scheme to be expanded

The bikes are run by contractor Hourbike and the council does not profit from the scheme

A bike hire scheme in Reading will be expanded to other parts of the town following what the council said was a successful year of usage.

ReadyBike will get new docking stations in the west of the Berkshire town while a few underused ones will be relocated.

Council figures show 500 ReadyBike trips are made each week on average.

The existing Caversham docking station will be expanded to coincide with the opening of the nearby pedestrian cycle bridge this autumn.

At the moment there are 200 bikes at 29 docking stations.

Potential locations for ReadyBike docking stations in West Reading are:

• Oxford Road (outside West Reading Library)

• Tilehurst Triangle local centre

• Prospect Park (car park off Liebenrood Road)

• Meadway Precinct local centre

• Reading West Station

• Tilehurst Station

Locations to "fill the gaps" in the existing network around the town centre include Caversham centre (St Martin's Precinct), Cemetery Junction, Erleigh Road, Whitley Street and Kenavon Drive.

The least used docking stations, to be relocated at a cost of up to £10,000, will include Academy Sport (Northumberland Avenue), Longwater Avenue (Green Park), Madejski Stadium and Lime Square (Green Park).