Agenda item - A Bike-share Scheme for York

This decision is to be made in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment.

The report asks the Executive Members to give their support to the appointment of an industry partner who will deliver a bike share scheme which will meet the standards required by the Council and its key partners.

Resolved: That the Executive Member for Transport and Planning, in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment, approve Option B as follows:

(i) Agree to the undertaking of a procurement exercise to secure a dock-less bike share scheme for York for an initial one year period. The scheme must not require ongoing public sector revenue to ensure its continued operation;

(ii) Delegate authority to officers to agree the detailed specification of the scheme with the following key York partners (LNER, University of York, York NHS Trust and York St John University) and with the preferred Scheme provider and,

(iii) a) Agree to undertake further consultation and, as appropriate, incorporate representation in the interview stage of the procurement from the following groups: Make it York, The York Bid, York Walk and Cycle Forum, and The York Cycle Campaign and,

b) in preparation of the tender documents, seek views from the following groups:

· groups representing people with mobility impairments (such as the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society)

· representatives from bike retailers

· representatives from Como UK (the body representing much of the bike share industry

· parties implementing counter-terrorism measures

(iv) Agree to build in safeguards into the scheme which would allow the scheme to be withdrawn in the case of evidence or harm to public safety or to the environment.

(v) Agree that the proposed scheme is brought back to the Executive Member for final approval before implementation.

The Executive Member for Transport and Planning and the Executive Member for Environment considered a report which proposed the introduction of a ‘Bike Share’ scheme for York. The report updated Members on changes which had occurred in the bike share sector over the last two years and reflected on how the industry had developed across the UK. It highlighted how such a scheme might be introduced in York and asked the Executive Members to give their support for the appointment of an industry partner who would deliver a bike share scheme which met the standards required by the Council and its key partners.

Officers advised that on 3 July they had attended the York Walk and Cycle Forum to give a brief presentation and to address questions arising. Attendees had included representatives from the York Cycle Campaign, York Blind and Partially Sighted Society and York Civic Trust. Attendees had been asked to direct any further comments to officers for them to consider incorporation into the tender documents subject to the decision made at this meeting.

Officers informed the Executive Members that a bike share scheme should be targeting modal shift, dissuading short journeys by car. To achieve modal shift, some of the bike hubs should be located in the York district centres such as Tang Hall, South Bank and Acomb to better enable trips for shopping, leisure, personal business and to work. Furthermore the location of any dock less bike parking should be clear in so that people with disabilities, including the blind and partially sighted community were not impeded.

Officers provided an industry verbal update in order that the two Executive Members were aware of developments in London and elsewhere in the country including Leeds. They acknowledged York Cycle Campaign’s preference for a docked scheme but advised that this was not the recommend option due to issues around finance and space.

The Executive Member for Environment noted that there had been an interesting discussion from a wide range of groups at the York Cycle Forum Meeting and comments which had been made, noting concerns from the Blind and Partially Sighted Society that bikes left in unfamiliar positions would pose a danger to those with sight impairments. He noted the pressure to park bikes in the city centre and stated that racks which had previously been removed were in the process of being put back into the city centre. He stressed the need to engage with a wide range of people before the contract was agreed and asked that the scheme to be brought back to the Executive Members before it was implemented. He asked that safeguards be included to prevent risk of harm to public safety or the environment.

The Executive Member acknowledged that although the dockless system was not favoured by York Cycle Campaign, it was the option recommended by officers for the reasons given in the report and confirmed at the meeting.