Does anyone run a community Bike Scheme

[Kins]

or work for one?

We got an email this morning from Powys who want us to bid for a cycle hire scheme they are going to start end of next month. (2 week deadline for bids)

I work for a community charity and social enterprise. ATM we have a volunteer centre based in the town, a wood recycling operation, tools recycling project and furniture recycling project based in an old Remploy Factory.

Because we already run these, and have cycle route 43 run literally right outside the factory one of the ex committee members who now works for Powys have asked us to bid.

Some blurb about the bid :

We have secured funding to supply up to two e-bikes, two disabled access bikes and one tandem in each of the old shire boundaries (Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire & Brecknockshire) of Powys. The successful organisation(s) would keep all revenue made during to pilot in return for delivering and administering the project, ensuring the upkeep and maintenance of the bikes and supplying visitor feedback reports during and at the end of the pilot.Our aim for the pilot is to offer visitors to the area the opportunity to choose alternative, sustainable, novel and fun ways to get around and be encouraged to use one or more of these alternatives instead of their cars. We have carefully selected these three alternative bikes as all three can remove barriers to cycling and make the countryside more accessible. It is hoped that on the back of high profile successes last summer during the tour de France, the Olympics and the Paralympics that Powys can become a leading centre for all types of cycling.

This will in turn improve access for visitors of all types that would not normally access cycling in the countryside, offset some carbon and reduce traffic in sensitive areas which are not reached by public transport. It fits in with other visitor transport projects that are underway including extending the electric vehicle charging network, improving rail station facilities (including bike security) and food trails by public transport. The pilot will also be an extension of the accessible Powys booklets recently produced by Disabled Holidays Information, an awareness lead charity and Powys County Council Countryside Servicers which will be complimented next year with the production of an accessible activities booklet that will feature this pilot that we will also be supporting.

The offer seems very short sighted at first glance with only 5 bikes on offer and not a full spectrum of types of bike. Although you can bid to have 5 bikes they might split up the bikes to more than one location. You can also bid to have any number upto 5.

As part of the scheme you have to have insurance, recovery scheme, maintenance, security etc and have the bikes available 7 days a week. (we only open 5 1/2 days atm.)

As these aren't "normal" bikes does anyone run a scheme which uses electric bikes, disabled bikes and what problems do you foresee for us as an organisation? Are they hard to maintain, and how popular are these for hiring?

Any input about problems, obstacles we would face if we decide to bid or any other input would be great.

 

[vernon]

Hilldodger works for a bike charity/service provider and he might be able to offer some useful advice.

 

[biggs682]

+1 re Hilldodger but not if still doing

 

[Arch]

With regard to maintenance, most of the principles are the same as a standard bike - you may find the the disabled bikes (depending on what they mean - Handcycles? Trikes? Quads?) have longer or multiple chains for example, but the basic principles of how it works are the same. With electric bikes, the main thing is to keep the batteries correctly charged and make sure the electronics/wiring is all kept neat and clean.

I think the thing about how popular they'd be depends on the potential use. Not knowing your area, are they likely to be used for practical transport (getting to shops from a residential area perhaps?) or just for the fun of breezing up and down an off road or quiet cycle route (which is no bad thing at all, it can be very liberating just to get out and ride a bit).

Also, a 'disabled' bike may only suitable for a limited range of disabled people, since disabilities vary so much from person to person - you might find you have a limited but regular clientele for a bike like that. Also, will a disabled person have an able bodied carer or companion needing a bike too?