Exeter has this week seen the launch of self-service e-bike hire for the public from on-street docking stations.
Co-bikes are the organization spearheading the city’s new network of docking stations, each hosting 4-8 bikes. Rising to the challenge of sustainable connectivity for the ‘first/last mile’ within urban and commuter regions, the docking stations at Exeter Central train station, Exeter University and a Park and Ride will provide one-way transport for the last leg of some travellers’ journeys into the city.
Further docking stations are planned for the winter months of 2016 to connect to further destinations; riders can hire, ride and drop the bikes off any docking station.
The team behind Co-bikes also manage Co-cars, a ‘hire by the hour’ car club. While residents and visitors to Exeter can hire the e-bikes via a mobile app after registering their personal details with Co-bike, the not-for-profit co-operative hopes that annual membership offering discounts will see regular travellers using both forms of hired transport.
Prices start from 75p per 30 minutes for members and £1.50 for 30 minutes (pay as you go) for non-members.
Mark Hodgson, Managing Director of Co-bikes and Co-cars said: “After years of planning, we’re very excited to be launching Co-bikes in Exeter. The Co-bikes electric bikes are changing the way that people travel around the city and are affordable and easy as well as being great fun to ride! We all know that our cities are becoming more congested and spread-out and a travel revolution is needed to help people reach their business, study or leisure destinations more quickly and affordably.
“Electric bikes are the catalyst for this revolution and for an easy, enjoyable, electric Exeter. Because of their small footprint, they can easily be docked on the street by transport hubs, business and retail parks, and residential communities – helping people link up other transport options in the way that best suits them.”
The initiative has been launched with the support of Devon County Council, the Department for Transport and Bikeplus.
