Bike share scheme gets off to a flying start

The BTN Bikeshare officially started on Saturday and it could not have gone better for organisers as cyclists spoke highly of the scheme.

More than 300 people signed up to the project on Thursday, before it officially began, and there were plenty cruising along the seafront in the sunshine over the weekend.

Richard and Jacqui Green, from Norfolk, who were staying in Brighton managed to get a ride on the bikes on Friday.

Despite a slight technical hiccup when registering to take them out, the couple were delighted with the whole project.

Richard, 62, said: “In the morning they were having problems with the payments, and we couldn’t pay for two bikes with one account.

“But they managed to sort the problem, and it was great fun.

“We took them along the seafront and got a lot of attention because we were some of the first people to go out on them.

“It is a brilliant concept. Brighton is a compact city with lots of cycle lanes, so it works really well.

“We had a good time.”

Richard also praised the value for money which the bikes offer, and said they were perfect for getting from A to B.

“For someone who is commuting, these cost about 3p per mile,” he said.

“It would be helpful for them and it is another option rather than owning a bike.”

Jacqui added: “It would be a great thing to do with friends.”

Hourbike, the company behind the project, has named the light-blue bicycles Life bikes, after sponsor Life Natural Spring Water.

There will be 450 available in parking bays dotted around the city centre, with 35 ports already in place and another 15 to be completed by the end of the month.

As well as their cost-efficiency at 3p per mile, the bikes have already become a convenience for Brightonians.

Sara Merriman, 29, from Kemp Town, works night shifts at the Hilton Metropole in King’s Road and she hopped on a bike from the parking bay opposite the hotel.

She said: “It is quicker to get me to and from work, and I don’t have space to keep one in my home.

“I will definitely be getting a bike weekly, if not daily.

“It will be handy and they are really comfortable.

“It is a 30 minute walk to and from work for me, so with these I’ll be able to do it in about ten minutes instead.”

Organisers told The Argus that people were getting on bikes from as early as 2am on Saturday.

Although there are ports to park the bikes, customers have the luxury of being able to leave them at any secure rack for just £2 extra.

Another lover of the scheme was American Trent Fraebell, on a week-long trip to Brighton.

The 54-year-old was cycling along the coastline on Saturday, and he said: “It’s a very smart idea.

“I went to the cliffs and along the seafront.

“There are some beautiful sights to see and what better way to see them than to do it while cycling.

“You can’t beat it.”

THIS IS THE LIFE... A CHEAP WAY TO SEE THE CITY IN THE SUNSHINE

I THINK I am going to have to start using the new Life bikes to get to breaking news stories.

As I cruised around the city centre on the new bikes on Saturday, I found that they offer a traffic-beating alternative to a car and they get you around quicker than a car would on most days in the heart of Brighton.

After signing up to the scheme, which took a matter of seconds on my phone, I hopped on one of the light-blue bikes at the hub next to the Palace Pier, and off I went.

It took me a couple of minutes to get comfortable back on two wheels as I had not ridden a bike for a while but once I got going it was plain sailing.

I decided to time myself from The Argus office in Manchester Street to B&Q in Lewes Road and back, covering the ground of what you would define as the city centre – it took me around 20 minutes.

Make of that time what you will, good or bad, but more often than not it would be quicker than using public transport or driving my car.

However, no more than 30 seconds after setting off from the pier I noticed the appalling states of the roads in central Brighton, particularly in the Old Steine.

At some points I thought I was rumbling down a rocky mountain.

They are extremely inconsistent – you go from gliding along stretches of smooth tarmac in some cycle lanes to clinging on for dear life over pitted and rutted roads.

However, that is an issue for the council to deal with, not the Life bike organisers.

Peter Kyle, if you are reading this, look away now...

One man said to his family as I rode past him at The Level: “Look, there’s one of those Boris bikes.”

So it looks as though the nickname will take a while to shake off.

At the launch of BTN BikeShare on Friday evening, Paul Topham, owner of South Coast Bikes repair shop said to me: “People just say Boris bikes because that’s how they associate it but it won’t last forever.”

A bit of reassurance for Mr Kyle there.

The state of Brighton’s roads is also a reassurance for Mr Topham – they will certainly keep him in business as the craters take their toll on Hourbike’s wheels.

Mr Topham also told me the best thing about the Life bikes is the quality, something I would certainly back up.

During my battle to stay on my bike, it remained relatively comfortable and easy to ride, so Mr Topham was correct.

One of the standout features of this scheme, however, is the sheer cost efficiency of it.

I was out for just over one hour, in which time I had cycled to Elm Grove via London Road, back to the office, then did the time trial, all for just £2.02.

If that is not good value for money, what is?

Plus you get to soak up the incredible sights and atmosphere of our wonderful city first-hand, in the fresh air.

These bikes are refreshing and give you an opportunity to do something different and they are handy for people who do not own bikes.

They are brilliant for recreational activity, something you can enjoy doing on your own or as part of a group.

From my experience on Saturday, I can confirm the views of others who advocate this scheme – it fits perfectly with Brighton and is a handy option to get around quicker.

It also offers tourists a bit of fun on the cheap.

One bit of advice I would give, however, is do not attempt to cycle one of these bikes up Elm Grove, no matter how brave you are feeling.

I learnt that after about five seconds.