A new bike and electric bike sharing scheme is being launched across Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight today (Thursday).
Solent Transport, its local authority partners and Beryl have created the brand-new bike share scheme, giving thousands of people the chance to enjoy 2-wheeled travel. The scheme, called ‘Beryl Bikes by Breeze’, offers a mixture of e-bikes and pedal bikes for hire across Portsmouth, Southampton and on the Isle of Wight.
Riders will be able to hire a bike through the new micromobility app, Breeze, developed by Solent Transport. Breeze also lets you hire both Beryl and Voi e-scooters and plan journeys on buses and trains across South Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
In future, there are plans for more features to be added including the ability to buy bus, rail and ferry tickets through the Breeze app. The bikes also work with the Beryl app.
A mixture of pedal bikes and e-bikes are available for everyone aged 16 and above, offering fun, easy and sustainable travel for residents and visitors alike. In future, cargo bikes and adapted bikes will be added to the scheme, ensuring a wide range of user requirements are catered for.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet Member for Transport, Isle of Wight Council, has said:
“Beryl have already been successfully running the e-scooter trial on the Isle of Wight. As part of the ongoing plans, we are pleased to be able to introduce e-bikes, giving residents and visitors an even better choice of ways to travel. Beryl Bikes by Breeze will initially be available in Cowes, Newport, and Ryde with the possibility of expanding this offer to other areas on the Island next spring. The e-bikes can be used on many routes, roads, and cycle ways, and more especially, used on the Red Squirrel Trail, which will allow riders to enjoy largely traffic–free cycling through the heart of the Island’s beautiful countryside.”
Beryl CEO Phil Ellis said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be able to launch the scheme in Portsmouth, Southampton and on the Isle of Wight and, in doing so, enable more people to take advantage of the excellent local cycling infrastructure. As with all our schemes, Beryl Bikes by Breeze has been designed to provide the best possible service for users by being delivered both in partnership with the local authority and in consultation with communities and key stakeholders”.
Both Breeze and Beryl apps are available to download from the App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android users. Once registered, you can use the apps to simply pick up and drop off bikes at secure parking places close to where you live and work.
The bikes are fully insured through Beryl’s public liability insurance. This is included in the prices charged for bike hire. Riders must observe the Highway Code and are strongly encouraged to wear a safety helmet and hi-vis clothing when using the bikes.
Phil Jordan is an absolute idiot. Beryl scooters have proved to be a total menace on the island and these bikes will be just the same. Now, where did I leave my sledge hammer.
They no longer want vehicles on the road.
It’s coming guys by 2030 you will be shocked
Enjoy driving while you still can.
Why do the e-scooters have a number on the back, but the bikes do not ?? Must be 16 years of age or more…. and who rules that then ?? No one rules the e-scooters in Ryde, as there are many younger than 16 year olds using them and often two up !! How long before we see children two up on e-bikes I wonder…
Highway Code… what is that they say… !!
How many miles can one get on an E-Bike ?? Will one make it to Newport ? Or to Ventnor ?
And why have you not advertised the costs ???
so what does it cost to use these bikes