Two new docking stations are due to be installed as part of the Derby ebikes scheme which has seen riders travel 100,000 miles in total since the scheme was launched.
Two new docking stations are due to be installed as part of the Derby ebikes scheme which has seen riders travel 100,000 miles in total since the scheme was launched.
Ebikes were introduced in the city at the end of June 2018 and since then the total number of miles travelled has exceeded expectations.
As a result of the scheme’s popularity, riders began requesting more docking stations and one will now be installed on Locomotive Way on Pride Park, close to Derby College, outside DHU Healthcare, at the end of next week.
A second virtual docking station has also gone live at Derby’s bus station. This is the first virtual dock, meaning that while there isn’t a physical docking station in the area, riders can view the dock location on the map, located on the ebikesderby.com website or the Social Bicycles app.
As long as the ebike is parked securely to the clearly marked cycle parking in front of the bus station, riders will not incur a £2 out of hub fee.
Tim Caswell is owner of Hourbike, the longest established bikeshare operator in the UK which operates the ebikes scheme in Derby
He said: “We are delighted with the response to the ebikes scheme from the people of Derby and it continues to be well used even throughout the winter months.
“As a result, we have now expanded to include two further docking stations and we have taken on board all suggestions and will be investigating even more in the future.”
To celebrate hitting 100,000 miles, it has been announced that ebike number 1 will be named after world record breaking Derby cyclist Leigh Timmis and in the future more ebikes will be named after prolific users of the scheme.
Leigh cycled through 10 European countries in 16 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes in September 2018. He pedalled 4,000 miles in total, breaking the previous record by an incredible eight days and seven hours
He said: “I’m honoured to have the first Derby ebike named after me and I’m proud to be part of a scheme that enables a healthy lifestyle while being incredibly good fun. The distance that Derby has already travelled on the bikes is amazing; even at world record pace, it would take me over 400 days!”
The ebikes are provided by US-based Social Bicycles and Derby was the first city outside of the US to get this top of the range bikeshare technology.
Customers sign up to use the scheme through the Social Bicycles app or the ebikesderby.com website. They then use their phone number or membership number and pin which they tap into a screen on the back of the ebikes to start their rental.
There’s a minimum charge of £1 per rental and a maximum daily charge of £12. It is preferred that ebikes are returned to one of the docking stations but users can lock them securely to other cycle parking, although they may be charged a £2 out of hub fee.
The ebikes were installed in Derby after the city council was successful in bidding for funding from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, with match funding from the University of Derby.
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