The new e-bikes will be joined by more over the coming weeks, making a total of 200 bikes and 104 e-bikes available for users in the city.
Cllr John Harrington, cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, said: ‘I’m really pleased these extra e-bikes have finally arrived after market supply chain issues in the summer caused a delay.
‘The e-bikes we have make a real difference to some user’s decisions and have given people the opportunity to use a bike to make longer journeys around the city.
‘The e-bikes also make it that bit easier for any riders who may be slightly nervous or don’t feel fit enough to use a standard Beryl and the arrival of these extra e-bikes will give us all more chance of finding one in a bay!’
The e-bikes can be hired from and returned to any of the existing 69 ‘Beryl Bays’ that are located across the city. Currently, 55,000 people are just five minutes or less walk from a bay, which represents 90% of the service area's population.
Beryl initially launched in Hereford in July 2019 with 75 bikes, eventually rising to 200 bikes with an additional 30 e-bikes added in March 2021.
Since launch, the scheme has proven to be very popular, generating 270,546 journeys over 648,000km. Based on 4,125 responses, 31.5% of these journeys would have otherwise have been made using a car, motorbike or taxi/Uber.*
According to industry calculations, the journeys taken so far have saved over nine tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This is the equivalent of approximately 531 litres of petrol or 53 flights from London to Edinburgh.
Beryl CEO and co-founder, Phil Ellis, said: ‘With its multiple modes, Hereford is a great example of how delivering a range of services can better contribute towards the aims of an integrated transport network.
‘E-bikes are a really fun and versatile way to travel and their extra power can really open up areas, enabling riders to tackle hills and undertake longer journeys. They’re also great for commuting, helping to reduce physical exertion and allowing people to arrive at work clean and ready to go.
‘By swapping the car for an e-bike journey you’re not only boosting your own health and fitness, you’re also helping to reduce congestion and harmful carbon emissions, so why not give it a try.’
