The operators of Brighton’s ebike hire scheme say the price is about to drop as the scheme expands.
Beryl Bikes told a rider today that an announcement is likely to be made “very soon” on new pricing.
The bikes currently cost 15p a minute, or £9 an hour to hire, plus a £1 unlocking fee. Bundles of minutes are available, but are currently priced the same.
Today, a rider called Vic tweeted Beryl Bikes calling on them to rethink their pricing – and Beryl replied, saying a change was imminent.
Vic said: “Over six quid for two very short journeys on a bike. I want to use these but it’d be way cheaper to get the bus. You need to re think your pricing.”
Beryl replied: “Hi! The current pricing is just for the initial launch. Updated pricing will be coming as the scheme expands and we’ll be announcing it very soon.”
Vic replied: “So we are over-paying currently?”
And Beryl said: “We are scaling prices as the scheme grows – increased quantities allow us to offer more competitive prices.”
Hi! The current pricing is just for the initial launch. Updated pricing will be coming as the scheme expands and we'll be announcing it very soon.
— Beryl (@BerylBikes) June 15, 2023
Brighton and Hove News understands the announcement will include details of non-electric hire bikes, which should be priced much lower.
Councillor Trevor Muten, chair of the Transport and Sustainability committee said: “The bike scheme is expensive, and pricing should be made cheaper. Under Labour, we will ensure this.
“As an administration, Labour is committed to working with the city’s bike hire provider to ensure planned price drops are fully implemented.
“Labour seeks to ensure significant improvements are made to the community bike hire presently available in Brighton and Hove.”
In Portsmouth and Southampton, where Beryl runs other schemes, ebikes cost 10p a minute with a £1.50 unlock fee, and pedal bikes 5p a minute with a £1 unlock fee. Minute bundles cost 5p a minute for both ebikes and pedal bikes, with no unlock fees for pedal bikes only.
The bike scheme is expensive, and pricing should be made cheaper. Under Labour, we will ensure this.
Beryl Bikes were awarded the £13 million contract by Brighton and Hove City Council to run the scheme after the previous one, operated by Hourbike, ended early because of technical problems.
A classic “Labour promising something that will happen anyway” quote there
Donkey Bikes now operating in Southwick, Lancing, Worthing £2.75 per hour no unlock fee, day rate £10, membership options with cheaper rides and the more you cycle the cheaper it gets. Why this council picked a more expensive operator serving only Brighton, instead of a service which could cover both areas in a joined up service I really don’t know. Brighton, Shoreham to Worthing is a popular commuter and leisure cycle route and now it is not possible to rent a bike for these journeys.
This weeks’ Beryl Bikes / Brighton and Hove City Council announcement has INCREASED the cost of eBikes from 15p to 16p per minute, whilst they claimed prices have dropped.
The cost of the old Brighton BikeShare pedal bikes was 4p per minute. Beryl pedal bikes are double that at 8p per minute.