191,000 journeys in Belfast Bikes year one

The Coca Cola Zero Belfast Bikes scheme celebrates its first birthday, following a successful year that saw the people of Belfast take Northern Ireland’s flagship public bike scheme to their hearts.

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Since the initiative was launched on 27 April last year, usage has grown steadily with more than 191,000 journeys undertaken by the scheme’s 6,000 annual and casual users. The bikes have travelled estimated 174,000 km – a distance equal to four times the circumference of the Earth.

There are currently 33 docking stations and 330 bikes, available for hire 365 days a year, from 6am until midnight. Further expansion is planned this year to three hospital sites and eight community areas. Stations at the City and Royal hospitals are due to be installed in late May, with the other stations scheduled for installation later in the summer. The Council is developing a strategic plan for further expansion of the scheme.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Arder Carson, said “the popularity of the scheme clearly shows that the Council were right to back this sort of transport in the city centre.”

“As a result of this civic leadership, Belfast is a lot more cycle friendly than it was in the past, and its reputation as such can only be enhanced by the ongoing and planned future investments in the city’s cycling infrastructure, helping us to reduce vehicular traffic, boost the health of our people and add to the friendly relaxed European atmosphere in the city.”

Belfast Bikes are a regular feature of the traffic-calmed city centre streets

Andrew Grieve from the Department for Regional Development Cycling Unit hopes that ongoing and future work to dedicated cycling infrastructure will encourage more Belfast Bikes use.

“With an average of over 500 bicycle rentals each day, the number of people using the bicycle as a healthy, convenient and enjoyable way to travel within the city continues to grow. The availability of this scheme together with the new bicycle infrastructure in the city centre will help more people to have the freedom and confidence to travel by bicycle for everyday journeys.”

New Alfred Street cycleway is full of Belfast Bikes every day

Matthieu Seguin, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC in Ireland and Northern Ireland is proud that Belfast Bikes have helped “people to integrate cycling into their everyday lives.”

“Reaching over 190,000 journeys in just 12 months is a fantastic achievement, and is testament to how well the bike scheme has been integrated into the fabric of Belfast City. As the summer season approaches, I urge more people to consider signing up to the scheme, availing of the option of a healthier and happier commute.”

My first @Belfastbikes commute. What a morning for it. Well done everyone who helped make this happen! @belfastcc pic.twitter.com/LydE43Wmv6

— Gary Potter (@belfastgary) April 27, 2015

Gordon Clarke, Director of Sustrans Northern Ireland which was involved in delivering on-road cycle training to new subscribers in 2015 hopes the scheme will go from strength to strength.

“We are delighted with the success of the Belfast Bikes which shows the appetite there is in the city and beyond for cycling. Belfast City Council and the DRD are to be commended for this visionary initiative which has certainly created a better place for people to work, live and move in.

Work meetings aren't so bad when you travel like this @Belfastbikes pic.twitter.com/Rpm81PFR9W

— Jike (@jikemeffrey) July 23, 2015

There are currently 3,500 annual subscribers who pay £20 a year, and around 2,400 casual users who pay £5 for three days’ use. Users can register for the scheme by telephone, online or via a Smartphone app. After registration, the first 30 minutes of bike use is free of charge, which makes Coca Cola Zero Bikes ideal for short journeys around the city.

Comment

Declaration of interest – I am a paid-up annual subscriber and a huge fan of Belfast Bikes. As a daily cycle commuter I use Belfast Bikes primarily as a way to shuttle around the city at lunchtime, or occasionally for meetings elsewhere in the city. £20 for a year compares very favourably with gym membership..

Hey Belfast, what did you do with your lunch hour? Ride @Belfastbikes.. #ROB4 pic.twitter.com/1PvNQ7bjFk

— NI Greenways (@nigreenways) April 22, 2016

It’s worth repeating the point that 191,000 journeys is a phenomenal success. In six months Belfast recorded 100,00 journeys, compared to Glasgow taking 14 months from launch to do the same, with more bikes, stations and subscribers.

Expansion is inevitable, and Phase Two is likely to concentrate on the cycling heartlands of Belfast to the south and east – if only because the ‘interim’ expansions already announced are primarily to the north and west.

Gasworks gates @Belfastbikes station picked to the bone by 10am, despite the cruel weather 🙂 pic.twitter.com/JtDbRj6lwW

— NI Greenways (@nigreenways) November 17, 2015

What surprised many was the Central Station to Gasworks journey being the most popular, or perhaps it isn’t a surprise given the excellent Laganside pathway.  When year one journey data is released to the public it will be a prime tool to evaluate the streets with highest demand for dedicated cycling facilities.