How to hire a bike in Birmingham

This week marks one year since the launch of the West Midlands Cycle Hire scheme - the largest of its kind outside London.

More than 200,000 journeys have been taken across the region over the last 12 months, including in Birmingham, covering more than 90,000 miles.

There have been 1,350 green and grey branded pedal bikes and 150 green and purple electric bikes have been delivered onto the streets of Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Solihull, Stourbridge, Sutton Coldfield, Walsall and Wolverhampton since the initial launch in Wolverhampton in March 202.

The scheme was introduced by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) as a more environmentally friendly alternative to the car for shorter journeys and is a large part of wider active travel plans for the region, to achieve the target of 5% of journeys taken by bike by 2023.

How can I hire a bike from the Transport for West Midlands scheme in Birmingham?

Pedal bikes and ebikes are available to hire in the scheme in Birmingham.

The bikes are available for hire at a number of docking stations across the city.

It costs £1 to unlock a manual bike and then 5p per minute of cycling.

For an ebike, you will pay £1.50 fee for unlocking the eBike, then 10p per minute of cycling.

Here’s a map showing the locations across Birmingham city centre.

In order to use the bikes you will need to download the Beryl Cycle Hire App which can also give you information on the nearest bikes to hire from your location.

Once you have then arrived at your chosen docking station, you will be able to unlock a bike.

To do this, you will to click the ‘Unlock Bike’ button on the app which will direct you to scan your phone over the touchpad on the bike between the handlebars on the bike to unlock it.

Your phone will then make a bleeping sound to signal the bike has been unlocked.

Once unlocked, you can pull the bike out of the docking point to start your ride.

You can click on your nearest docking station in the Beryl app, and it will tell you how many pedal and ebikes are currently available at that station. Look out for the lightning bolt symbol that represents ebikes.

You can check for the availability and location of bikes by downloading the app here.

How do you return a bike?

Both electric bikes and standard bicycles can be collected and dropped-off at any docking station that may be found via the Beryl application.

Once you’re ready to return the bike, simply push the bike back into an empty docking point at one of the docking stations and then push the yellow lock on the bike down to lock it - when the bike is correctly docked you will hear a beeping sound again.

You can also check you journey has ended by checking the map.

To find your nearest ebike, download the Beryl app and and look for the nearest lightning bolt symbol.

What’s been said about the scheme one year on?

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Our region’s Cycle Hire scheme has had a fantastic year, with more than 200,000 journeys taken since the first bikes were launched across the West Midlands.

“We’ve also seen the public really warm to the introduction of eBikes in December, which makes it even easier for even more people to get involved with cycling.

“But there is still a long way to go, with more communities to reach and more people to encourage to turn to two wheels.

“That’s why finding the right sponsor for the scheme is critical, and I am excited to see who steps forward to partner with us.

“Not only is cycling brilliant for people’s physical health, it also helps reduce the number of cars on the road, tackling congestion, air pollution, and the climate emergency.

“That is why I am so committed to our Cycle Hire scheme, and to improving and promoting active travel right across the region.”

West Midlands cycling and walking commissioner Adam Tranter said: “This scheme has achieved a huge amount in a short space of time. Its popularity amongst residents and visitors proves that people are interested in getting on their bikes, whether to get to work, to enjoy local parks or to use the bikes for short utility journeys in our towns and cities.

“The West Midlands Cycle Hire scheme is a gateway for people who haven’t cycled for a long time, or ever, to see what it’s like to travel around by bike. With high-quality infrastructure going live this year and ambitions to deliver more, we’re working hard to make it easier for people to choose cycling for short journeys. So, if you haven’t already, why not give it a go?”

Plans for Birmingham 2022

Part of the scheme’s development in 2022 will include being a major part of transport plans as Birmingham hosts the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The games get underway on July 28 and last for two weeks. In that time there will be many visitors to the city, and the cycle scheme will help people to get around Birmingham in an environmentally friendly way.

As well as this, organisations are also now being invited to submit a tender application to become the official sponsor for the scheme, which they can do, here.

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