The Bee Network Cycle Hire is coming to Manchester, Salford and Trafford, with both pedal and electric bikes available for hire.
Transport for Greater Manchester, working in partnership with Manchester City Council, Salford City Council and Trafford Council, is launching a trial of Greater Manchester’s first publicly operated, self-service, 24/7 cycle hire programme: Bee Network Cycle Hire.
Bee Network Cycle Hire is affordable, easy to use and enables more people to get active around the city – as well as helping Greater Manchester to reduce congestion and tackle air pollution. The bikes are designed to be safe, fun and easy to ride so more people can get around on two wheels.
Bikes will be available to hire from 18 November from various cycle hire stations at key locations across Manchester and Salford, with more bikes added to the existing fleet.
The full scheme will launch in June 2022 when 1,500 bikes, including 300 e-bikes, will become available to the public.
About the bikes
Pedal and e-bikes will be available to hire. Both vehicle types feature adjustable saddles and a range of safety features; making cycling an accessible option for a trip to the shops, the commute to work, getting into university, or hopping across town for a meeting or social.
The bikes are GPS tracked and will be monitored by a dedicated on-street team which will ensure they are safe and secure. They have been designed to be tamper proof and a stolen bike alert system has been agreed with GMP – meaning they can be easily spotted.
How to access the bikes
To access the bikes you must download the Beryl app and create an account. The app is used to unlock the bikes and process payments. Bikes need to be returned to a station to avoid incurring a charge. If a station is full, it will be possible to securely lock the bikes as close to the station as you can, ensuring it is left in a safe location.
The map for phase one of the scheme outlines the zones where you will be able to pick up and drop off hire bikes across the city. You can find more exact locations on the Beryl app.
Price
Bee Network Cycle Hire will be one of the best value cycle hire schemes in the UK. Pedal bikes will cost 50p to unlock and 5p per minute to use, while e-bikes will cost £1 to unlock and 10p per minute to use.
To celebrate the launch, new users will receive a free 15-minute ride, plus free unlock, if they use the scheme between 18th and 19th November. The discount will be automatically applied at the end of the ride. More information can be found in the promotions tab on the app.
More information
For key information about the scheme, including costs and safety considerations, unlocking and parking, please see TfGM’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Bee Network cycle hire scheme is part of the wider Destination: Bee Network plan, which aims to provide a fully-integrated public transport system joining together cycling, buses, trams and walking by 2024, with rail incorporated by 2030, to transform how people travel in Greater Manchester.