Beryl and Worcester City Council are celebrating the successful first year of their bike and e-bike share scheme in Worcester, which has positively impacted local transport habits, air quality, and congestion levels, whilst also improving people’s mental and physical health.
Since launching on 17 June 2024, the scheme has generated an impressive 52,922 sustainable journeys with riders covering a total of 125,849 kilometres. The scheme has also significantly contributed to the well-being of Worcester residents, facilitating 12,595 hours of exercise for people.
The latest Beryl Annual Rider Report - a survey of thousands of Beryl users across several schemes - shows that the bikes and e-bikes play a crucial role in replacing car journeys - 47% of Worcester users have completely stopped or used cars less often.
The scheme was introduced to Worcester as part of the Worcester Town Investment Plan, supported by Government funding which was secured by Worcester City Council.
Councillor Robyn Norfolk, Chair of Worcester City Council’s Place and Economic Development Committee said: “The Beryl bike hire scheme in Worcester has proven to be a fantastic addition to our city’s transport options.
“The benefits are clear, from promoting active lifestyles and improving the health and wellbeing of our community to contributing to reduced traffic and cleaner air in Worcester.
“This scheme is a valuable component of our ongoing commitment to creating a more sustainable city.
“The scheme offers a healthy and environmentally friendly way for our residents, workers, and visitors to navigate Worcester, reducing reliance on private vehicles.”
Phil Ellis, Beryl CEO and co-founder, said: “These impressive numbers for Worcester’s first year show that by providing a well-planned, user-friendly, and affordable bike share scheme, we can effectively encourage more people to choose cycling.
“Bike share offers a flexible and convenient transport solution for a wide variety of journeys, whether it's for commuting, leisure, exercise, or connecting with other modes of transport. We are delighted with the scheme’s impact in Worcester.”
The University of Worcester and Worcestershire Royal Hospital have also been key partners in the scheme.
Katy Boom, Director of Sustainability at University of Worcester said: “Having Beryl bikes available on all our campuses and across the city is great.
“Being able to easily find a bike, whether a pedal or an e-bike, makes them very easy to use. Students always appreciate any discounts, and now the bikes are available at Worcester Royal, which means our nurses, midwives, and other health students can easily get in their exercise whilst on placement.”
With plans to add a few new parking bays around the hospital, Jo Newton, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, who said:
“As well as the clear benefits to health and wellbeing, the availability of Beryl bikes onsite at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital provides another way to reach the hospital from the city centre. For nursing and medical students this enables travel direct from the University campus, whilst also linking everyone to other public transport hubs.
“We receive feedback from staff and visitors about the difficulties sometimes in accessing our site so we are pleased that this scheme provides an alternative to the car as part of our transport and travel plan.”
The Worcester Beryl scheme currently offers e-bikes and pedal bikes, available to rent from numerous Beryl bays conveniently located across the city. These bays have been strategically placed following consultation with communities and key stakeholders, ensuring accessibility for a large proportion of the service area's population.
