Keen cyclist that he is (!) Roger Key was one of the first people to register with Bristol”s new 24 hour, automated Hourbike cycle hire scheme (www.hourbike.com).
The scheme aims to provide an alternative to car or taxi journeys, especially in the city centre, by making rental cycles available for any length of time from easily accessible, secure cycle racks. It is not aimed at people who already own bikes but those who will benefit from a quick and easy way to travel around Bristol, whether residents, office workers, shoppers or students.
Hourbike members use a simple SMART card and PIN, to start the rental period and release a bike from its locking device ready to be ridden away. Bicycles can be returned to any Hourbike stand, not just at the location where the Hourbike was rented, and the rental period ends.
Credit is deducted from the members account according to rental charges applicable for that location and a trip that takes less than 30 minutes costs nothing.
Members can check availability and location of bikes and the amount of credit in their Hourbike account online.
At the time of writing, HUBs (Hourbike’s name for the bike rental stations)have been installed at Parkway Station and the University of West of England”s Frenchay, St Matthias and Glenside campuses.Others will be installed across the city centre and at Temple Meads and Temple Quay. Roger is looking forward to using the bikes for travel to meetings in and around the city centre.