Well over half of the bikes in the city’s cycle hire scheme, part of Transport for Greater Manchester’s Bee Network, are now out of action following a rash of ‘wilful and malicious damage’, it has emerged.
Of the nearly 1,000 bright yellow pedal and electric ‘Beryl Bikes’ in circulation, just 379 are currently in use on the network, with a huge 564 awaiting repair or maintenance.
Users of the network have been taking to social media in recent weeks complaining about the lack of bikes both in the city centre and the suburbs. Meanwhile, the online app for Beryl, the bike providers, shows most stands registering zero bikes across the city.
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In a joint statement, Transport for Greater Manchester’s cycling and walking director Richard Nickson, Greater Manchester Police’s chief superintendent Mark Dexter and Beryl’s CEO Phil Ellis, said: “Unfortunately, a small minority have wilfully and maliciously damaged bikes over recent weeks.
“This has meant there has been fewer than normal available for hire, and we’re sorry to anyone who has not been able get one when needed. We will not tolerate this type of behaviour and are working closely together to increase availability of bikes and prevent and deter criminality.
“The public can play their part too. You can be our eyes and ears and help us by reporting any misuse of the scheme.
“We want residents and visitors to have a safe and reliable experience and would reassure everybody that we are resolute in our commitment to ensuring its continued success and are taking steps to target those seeking to undermine the scheme.”
TfGM said it plans to take ‘an enforcement, engagement and education-led approach to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour. Targeted enforcement is planned against those involved in criminal activity’.
The scheme was introduced at the end of 2021, and as of last week had clocked up one million kilometres of user rides. 62,563 are registered as active users, which is up from less than 40,000 at the start of the year.
Damage to the hire bikes recalls the city’s experience with the similar Mobike scheme which ended in 2018 in a hail of the supposedly ‘virtually vandal-proof’ bikes being vandalised, abandoned and thrown into canals.
The Chinese company suspended its service after barely a year. The Beryl bike scheme differs in that bikes are left in bike stands across the city, where Mobikes could be left wherever the previous rider ended their ride.
