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Belfast’s public bikeshare scheme, Coca-Cola Zero Belfast Bikes, has been launched.

The Belfast City Council scheme, supported by the Department for Regional

Development, features 300 bicycles, based at 30 docking stations positioned across

the city centre http://www.belfastbikes.co.uk/en/belfast/locations/

 

Almost 1500 people have registered for the scheme ahead of today’s launch.

Membership costs £20 for an annual subscription or £5 for a 3 day membership for

visitors, tourists and casual users.

 

Bikeshare schemes are mainly aimed at facilitating short journeys, so the first 30

minutes of each rental are free of charge and the next 30 minutes will cost just

50p.  There are small incremental charges per half hour thereafter.

 

To use the scheme, all users must register a debit or credit card, to which hire

charges will then be charged directly.  Failure to return a bicycle after 72 hours

will result in a direct fine of £120.

 

Hiring one of the Coca-Cola Zero Belfast Bikes is quick and easy and uses smart

technology to detect a user’s location and the number of available bikes at docking

stations nearby.  Members can either swipe their membership card at the on-street

terminal to release a bike or they can use the Nextbike app to find the nearest

available bicycle, log it out and return it.  Non-members can sign up on-street at

one of the 30 terminals, on the website

(www.belfastbikes.co.uk<http://www.belfastbikes.co.uk> ) or by calling the hotline:

03433 571551.

 

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Arder Carson said: “These bikes are a superb addition

to the city’s transport links, a boost to its economy and a further enhancement to

our tourism offering.

 

“Thanks to sponsorship by Coca-Cola Zero, we can keep down the price of both the

annual membership and the hire charges for this fantastic addition to Belfast.

Short journeys can be made so quickly and cheaply – it’s a great way to get across

town and to see more of the city.

 

“We have already had a huge amount of interest in the scheme, with lots of enquiries

about extending it.  We’re hoping it will be a big success and we’ll be able to look

at expanding the network in the near future. ”

 

Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy said: “Cycling offers an enormous range

of benefits.  It’s healthy, it’s low cost and sustainable, and it’s fun!

 

“I am delighted to support this scheme, both in terms of the funding my department

has committed and by adding my own personal support for this forward-thinking

initiative.

 

“Cycling, whether for recreation or short distance commuting can help us develop and

maintain an active personal lifestyle and I would encourage everyone living,

working, or visiting Belfast to give the Belfast cycle hire scheme a try.”

 

The Belfast Bikes scheme is supported by Coca-Cola Zero, which also sponsors

bikeshare schemes in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

 

Frank O’Donnell, general manager of Coca-Cola HBC in Ireland and Northern Ireland

said: “Our investment in Coca‑Cola Zero Bikes is part of our wider commitment to

help encourage active healthy lifestyles and we hope this scheme will enable more

people to integrate cycling into their everyday lives, with the option of a

healthier and happier commute.  Bikeshare schemes all over Ireland – and in all the

major cities of the world – are proving extremely popular and I’m sure the people of

Belfast will embrace it too.”

 

The scheme, which is part of Belfast City Council’s Investment Programme 2012-15,

will be operated by public sector service specialist, NSL.  Docking stations are

positioned from the Odyssey Arena to Bradbury Place, from Millfield to Central

Station and the Gasworks, linking up with the Lagan towpath and National Cycle

Networks.  Operating hours for hire are 6am – 12 midnight.  Bicycles can be returned

to a docking station 24 hours a day.