BRIGHTON’S bike hire scheme has been given a huge boost with a big name sponsor getting behind the project.

American Express, the largest private sector employer in Brighton and Hove, has been unveiled as a co-sponsor of BTN BikeShare alongside Life Natural Spring Water.

Since its start on September 1 the scheme has been well received with more than 12,000 residents and visitors to the city taking advantage of the innovative transport scheme.

Tim Caswell, owner of Hourbike, the company operating the scheme, said: “I’m thrilled to announce our partnership with Amex.

He added: “Our joint intentions are to deliver a sustainable, environmentally positive transport network for the city, as well as improve health through increased cycling.”

American Express already sponsors Brighton and Hove Albion.

Pete Taswell, American Express’s vice president of marketing, said: “We are thrilled to be involved in such a brilliant initiative.

“From the first meetings I had with the team from Hourbike, I knew that this was something that American Express had to get involved with. We are passionate about our role in the community and this is a great way to bring bike travel to everyone who lives in and visits Brighton & Hove.”

Residents and visitors can hire and locate the Life Bikes via the SoBi app. A casual rental plan, priced at 3p per minute (£1 minimum spend), is available for occasional riding.

More frequent users may prefer an annual membership, which provides an hour of daily cycling for £72.

Chairwoman of Brighton and Hove City Council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, councillor Gill Mitchell, said: “This is great news.

“It’s good that BTN BikeShare has found a high-profile sponsor with strong connections to the city.”

More than 4,000 people signed up to use the Life bikes scheme within its first two weeks, with an average of three trips per day on each of the 200 bikes available in Brighton and Hove.

The scheme has 50 hubs and 450 bikes in total.

The bike hubs are dotted around the city centre, as far east as the marine and as far west as George Street, Hove and next to Hove Park.

There are more hubs dotted up Lewes Road where cyclists can rent them out, as far as both universities.

But no hubs are located in Whitehawk, Patcham, Withdean or Portslade, among other parts of the city.

Worthing has its own bike hire scheme, with hubs at the lido, pier, Steyne Gardens and at Windsor Road.