Belfast Bikes, also known for sponsorship reasons as Frank and Honest Belfast Bikes as is a public bicycle rental scheme which has operated in the city of Belfast since April 27, 2015. At its launch, the scheme, which was then sponsored by Coca-Cola HBC, used 300 Unisex bicycles with 30 stations.
| Frank and Honest Belfast Bikes | |
|---|---|
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_6078939.jpg) Belfast Bikes docked at Gasworks (Lagan Towpath) station in 2019 | |
| Overview | |
| Owner | Belfast City Council |
| Locale | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Transit type | Bicycle-sharing system |
| Number of stations | 45 |
| Website | belfastbikes |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | April 27, 2015 |
| Operator(s) | NSL |
| Number of vehicles | 632 |
Belfast City Council owns the scheme. The Department for Regional Development (DRD) provided initial capital funding for the scheme as part of their Active Travel Demonstration Projects budget. NSL is looking after the daily operation of the scheme, while Nextbike is responsible for the bikes.
Expansion and development
editStarting initially with 30 stations, the number has increased to 59, and has expanded beyond the city centre area. This includes two stations at Queen's University Belfast (the cost of which was covered by the University), one close to the Titanic Belfast Convention Centre, and at the Mater, Royal Victoria and Belfast City Hospitals (the cost covered by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust). Over recent years, the scheme has expanded into residential areas across the city.
Plans for expansion are ratified by vote by Belfast City Council Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.
Sponsorship
editAt its launch the scheme was sponsored by Coca-Cola HBC for a three-year period and was known as Coca-Cola Zero Belfast Bikes.[1] In April 2018 this sponsorship deal ended and after a tendering process Just Eat were named as the new sponsors in August 2018 with the scheme to be branded as Just Eat Belfast Bikes. The latest scheme sponsor (June 2024) is Frank and Honest Coffee Company owned by Irish grocery wholesaler Musgrave Group.[2]
Costs
editTo use the system, users need to take out a subscription, which allows the subscriber an unlimited number of rentals. Subscribers can get an Annual Hire Card costing £25, or a 3-day ticket costing £6.[3] Users also authorise Belfast Bikes to charge £120 from their credit card if the bike is not returned. The first half-hour of every journey is free, after that a service charge applies. There is also a popular pay-as-you go option. See below for pricing structure:
| Time | 30 min | 1 hr | 2 hrs | 3 hrs | 4 hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate | Free | £0.50 | £1.50 | £2.50 | £3.50 |
In response to a Freedom of Information request, Belfast City Council published financial figures relating to subsidies to the scheme. In its first year, the Council subsidised it to the tune of £173,000. From April 2016 to April 2017, this increased to £215,000, despite a Business Case showing subsidies would reduce from £56,440 (April 2015 to April 2016), £23,050 (April 2016 - April 2017) and return a profit of £10,730 (April 2017 - April 2018).[4]
Stations
edit| Name | Bikes | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| Alfred Street / St Malachy's Church | 14 | April 27, 2015 |
| Arthur Street / Chichester Street | 18 | April 27, 2015 |
| Bankmore Square / Dublin Road | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Botanic Avenue / Shaftesbury Square | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Bradbury Place | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Carrick Hill / St Patricks Church | 12 | April 27, 2015 |
| Castle Place / Royal Avenue | 22 | April 27, 2015 |
| Cathedral Gardens / York Street | 20 | April 27, 2015 |
| Central Station / East Bridge Street | 20 | April 27, 2015 |
| Central Station / Mays Meadow | 20 | April 27, 2015 |
| City Hall | 20 | April 27, 2015 |
| College Square East | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Corporation Square | 14 | April 27, 2015 |
| Cotton Court / Waring Street | 12 | April 27, 2015 |
| Donegall Quay | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Dunbar Link / Gordon Street | 8 | April 27, 2015 |
| Duncairn Centre / Antrim Road | 8 | April 27, 2015 |
| Europa Bus Station / Blackstaff Square | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Gasworks (Cromac Street) | 12 | April 27, 2015 |
| Gasworks (Lagan Towpath) | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Great Victoria Street / Hope Street | 18 | April 27, 2015 |
| Linenhall Street / Donegall Square South | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Millfield / Divis Street | 18 | April 27, 2015 |
| North Street / Waring Street | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Odyssey / Sydenham Road | 22 | April 27, 2015 |
| Royal Avenue / Castlecourt | 12 | April 27, 2015 |
| Smithfield / Winetavern Street | 12 | April 27, 2015 |
| St George's Market / Cromac Square | 12 | April 27, 2015 |
| Victoria Square / Victoria Street | 10 | April 27, 2015 |
| Waterfront | 24 | April 27, 2015 |
| Writer's Square / St Anne's Cathedral | 16 | April 27, 2015 |
| Queens University / Botanic Gardens | 14 | November 27, 2015 |
| Queens University / University Road | 16 | November 27, 2015 |
| Titanic Quarter | 18 | December 1, 2015 |
| Belfast City Hospital / Lisburn Road | 14 | August 1, 2016 |
| Royal Victoria Hospital | 20 | August 1, 2016 |
| Mater Hospital / Crumlin Road | 10 | September 7, 2016 |
| Girdwood Community Hub | 18 | October 13, 2016 |
| Shankill Leisure Centre | 18 | October 13, 2016 |
| CS Lewis Square | 16 | November 22, 2016 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Coca-Cola Zero to sponsor Belfast's public bike scheme". Belfast City Council. 10 February 2015.
- ^ "Belfast Bikes scheme announces new citywide sponsor". Belfast City Council. 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Nextbike – origin bike sharing".
- ^ "Belfast Bike". Whatdotheyknow. 3 March 2017.
- ^ "Belfast Bikes – Docking Stations Locations and Routes". Detail Data. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.