Operated by UK-based shared sustainable transport providers, Beryl, in partnership with Stevenage Borough Council, the scheme comprises 150 e-bikes available to hire from a network of 45 Beryl Bays.

A special launch event is being held today at Event Island, with Beryl staff on hand to answer questions, offer help and advice and provide test rides, giveaways and discount codes.

The scheme will be operated by Beryl on behalf of the council. It has been funded in part by money awarded to Stevenage in 2021 as part of the UK government’s Towns Fund, through the Stevenage Development Board. There were also contributions from developers as part of Section 106 agreements.

Beryl CEO and co-founder Phil Ellis, said: “We’ve operated bike share schemes in Hertfordshire for nearly five years and will use that knowledge and experience to make this scheme as accessible, easy-to-use and convenient as possible.

“Our e-bikes are a really fun and versatile way to travel and their extra power can really open up areas, enabling riders to tackle hills and undertake longer journeys.

“They’re particularly great for commuting, allowing people to arrive at work clean and ready to go, and for carrying heavier loads such as shopping.

“We hope that, from the launch today, the scheme will encourage as many people as possible in Stevenage to adopt more sustainable long-term transport habits.”

Cllr Lloyd Briscoe, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Transport, commented: “We are delighted that this scheme has launched today, as we continue to encourage active travel across the town. Our cycle network is the perfect place to enjoy these bikes, travelling to different areas within the borough thanks to the differing locations of the bays available and the connectivity that the town has. We hope that this scheme will allow experienced and first-time cyclists to experience travel throughout Stevenage, using a pollution-free method of transport that will open up cycling to a greater number of people”.

Adrian Hawkins OBE, Chair of the Stevenage Development Board, added: "We are very proud of this scheme as it not only shows that Stevenage has an eye on providing future solutions for our residents, but it is also a nod to just how well thought out the town was at its inception.

"Our cycle network is one of the key elements which has set Stevenage new town apart from other developments. With this new scheme we show that people can both commute and also undertake leisure activities in a modern way that highlights our future transport needs as a top priority."

The latest annual Beryl Rider Report, a survey of thousands of Beryl users across several schemes undertaken in summer 2023, showed that Beryl e-bikes have a positive impact on lapsed cyclists. Of all e-bike riders asked, 21% said they had used Beryl e-bikes to ride for the first time after a long break (5+ years) from cycling, while 19% said they had used them to ride for the first time after a short break (1-4 years) from cycling. A further 3% said Beryl e-bikes had encouraged them to cycle for the first time ever.

The report also showed that 56% of e-bike riders said they cycled more often or much more often since using Beryl e-bikes.

Beryl currently operates hire schemes nearby in both Watford (200 bikes/100 e-bikes, launched March 2020) and Hertsmere (40 bikes/20 e-bikes, launched October 2022). Since those schemes were introduced, they have produced a combined 527,000 sustainable journeys across more than 1.4m km, generating nearly 200,000 hours of physical activity. According to industry calculations, they have saved nearly 55 tonnes of carbon emissions.

You can hire a Beryl e-bike through the Beryl app, available for free download on the App Store for iOS, and the Google Play Store for Android users.

For more information on Beryl, visit the Stevenage Beryl Bike Share website.