Student bike share scheme widens

Bikes can be hired from docking stations across the town

A bike share scheme adopted by the University of Gloucestershire at its Cheltenham campuses is to be tried out in the rest of the town.

Since April, staff and students have been able to hire a bicycle from any of the Cheltenham campuses.

Users set up an account on their mobile phones to get a security code which allows them to take one of the bikes.

The borough council is now running a similar trial using 26 bikes, at 14 docking stations in seven locations.

Exciting scheme

Councillor Paul Massey said it was an exciting scheme.

"We're one of the very first towns in the UK to try this and it shows how seriously we're taking the sustainability agenda," he said.

"This pilot gives us a chance to find out about the market and demand for hire bikes and any problems in operating the scheme."

Cycle stands can be found around the town centre, with one on the Bath Road by the Exmouth Arms and also around main cycle routes or quiet, useful road networks.

Bikes can be dropped off at any docking station, not just the station they were hired from.

A £10 deposit is required and the first half hour's hire is free, with charges made for extra time.