Improved micromobility across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 

BCP Council reappoints Beryl to continue and upgrade its successful bike, e-bike and e-scooter scheme until 2028 

Extended tenure will see improvements including more e-bikes and, from spring 2024, the integration of e-cargo bikes – making this the first UK shared transport scheme to offer four different, integrated modes.

Beryl e-bikes in Bournemouth, photo courtesy of Beryl

Founded in 2012, micromobility provider Beryl initially offered a ‘Laserlight’ product that made cycling safer by ensuring bikes and their riders were 32% more visible to riders. Since then, the company has produced its own bikes and scooters, and now runs hire and sharing schemes. Today, it provides some 300,000 people with bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters and cargo bikes for getting to work or university, for a quick nip to the shops or just to venture and explore. Since 2019, the company has run the current bike, e-bike and e-scooter scheme in partnership with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. 

That this scheme is now being extended is testament to its success. Beryl backs this up with statistics. The company’s own Annual Rider Report surveyed more than 600 riders across the council region last summer. It found that some 43% of cyclists were cycling more often or much more often since joining the scheme, and 34% of all riders asked had reduced car use. 

The report also shows that riders across the region embrace multiple modes of transport, with 35% riding both bikes and e-scooters, and 28% riding all three modes available. This compares to 15% riding pedal bikes alone, and 13% just riding e-scooters.  

What’s more, the scheme has appealed to lapsed cyclists in the region, with 16% of riders in the area returning to cycling after one to five years, and a further 17% returning after more than five years. 

Beryl operates a Community Champions Initiative to support particular groups of people living in the council region. As part of this effort, the company has provided more than 180,000 free rides to those including cycle-training organisations job seekers, low-income hospitality workers, refugees, students and others. The company also provides opportunities, skills and training to those with additional learning needs. It works with BCP council on a supported internships for young people aged 19-25, providing assisted work placements to help participants gain confidence and boost their job prospects. 

Phil Ellis, CEO and Co-Founder of Beryl, says: ‘Obviously we are delighted to extend our partnership with BCP Council and see it as an indication of the great work we have done together to provide the region with the convenient, cost-effective and simple-to-use scheme it deserves. 

‘Over the next five years, we will utilise the knowledge and experience we have gained to deliver some significant improvements, which will help make the scheme even more user-friendly and hopefully encourage an even greater take up of sustainable transport habits.’

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