AN electric cycle hire scheme is set to be introduced in Edinburgh after councillors supported a two-year pilot for the project.
Following workshops earlier this year, the plans will now move to a trial phase in which areas of increased demand will be identified.
A report will be made to determine the long-term feasibility of such a scheme, which would allow people to rent bikes for short journeys across the city.
Edinburgh’s previous cycle hire scheme ended in 2021 due to significant issues around theft and vandalism.
At yesterday’s transport and environment meeting, councillors noted the success of the workshops held in February this year, and decided to move forward with the two-year pilot scheme, which comes at no cost to the council.
Different types of technology were explored, such as geo-fencing which would create designated operational zones for bike use, and GPS tracking to monitor cycle locations.
It is proposed that locations for the bike hubs will be based on foot traffic to maximise accessibility, and will be designed to accommodate users with mobility aids.
During the upcoming trial, the council will conduct surveys and regular meetings with the operator to measure the scheme’s success.
In 2021, the Edinburgh Cycle Hire Scheme (ECHS) closed as operators decided not to extend their contract with Transport for Edinburgh, due to issues around theft and vandalism and the resultant financial impact.
An operator for this scheme has not yet been decided, but the council has been in talks with Lime and Dott.
Transport and environment convener Stephen Jenkinson said at the meeting: “I’m not going to apologise for putting officers under a bit of pressure with regards to this scheme and the time frame attached to it.
“We have moved at a significant pace throughout the development of this project and it is pleasing to get to this stage armed with some really good information about what the future of this trial might look like.
“I think it’s important to stress that it is a trial, there’ll be lots of lessons hopefully learnt through that two-year process.
“Like others on the committee, I want to move to something which is generally accepted as a normal mode of transport for people to move throughout the city.
“I understand the concerns about it predominantly being focused on the city centre, certainly at the early stages of the trial, and I do share Councillor Gardiner’s wish for it to be a city-wide scheme in the future, because not only would that be financially rewarding to any operator delivering the scheme but it also makes it much more accessible to people across the city.”
