Issue - meetings

The report by the Director of Regeneration sets out the benefits of a cycle hire scheme in Portsmouth. Consideration is also given as to which model of cycle hire scheme would be most beneficial to the city's residents and visitors.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation:

(1)       Supports the development of a floating bike hire scheme within Portsmouth and Delegates authority to the Director of Regeneration to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with a cycle hire organisation, but that the City Council maintains an 'Observer Approach';

(2)       Agrees the withdrawal from the existing Brompton Bike Hire dock at the Hard Interchange as this has not proved cost effective for the City Council;

(3)       Delegates responsibility to the Director of Regeneration, to consider the floating bike hire options available to Portsmouth and establish the best suited service provider for the city.

Pam Turton, Assistant Director, introduced the report of the Director of Regeneration, which set out the advantages and disadvantages of the floating bike hire schemes and docked hire schemes and concluded that the 'floating hire' scheme would be the most appropriate model to increase the number of hire locations in the city.

Councillor Bosher, as Cabinet Member, had received a written deputation from the Portsmouth Cycle Forum's Chair Ian Saunders supported the promotion of cycling in the city, outlining that it needed to be with the development of a safe cycling network.  Councillor Bosher was keen that there be improvement of the cycling infrastructure in the city.

Questions were raised by the three members, covering:

·         Responsibility for the bikes (including servicing and collection)

- it was reported that the Memorandum of Understanding would enable these discussions to take place and that individuals would be responsible for returning the bikes to appropriate locations (with a locking mechanism being used to sign out of the hire time). Vandalism would be dealt with by the service provider.

·         Visits to see schemes at other comparable cities

- Nick Scott reported on the visit to Southampton to see the implementation of their recent YoBike scheme and it was noted that some cities have a variety of providers (such as at Oxford) although for the trial period there would only be 1 provider in Portsmouth.

·         Discount schemes and the involvement of the University of Portsmouth (UoP)

- there would be work with the University of Portsmouth to look at subsidised rates for students and there was the potential for this to be extended to businesses. Pam Turton was due to meet with UoP representatives the following week to discuss the proposed floating scheme; Councillor Stagg believed that the University had expressed concern about the removal of the Brompton Bikes.

·         Data provision -

as a scheme would be App based this would offer collection of useful data, such as key routes for cycling in the city

·         The level of interest by companies - there had been 7 expressions of interest

·         Use of the Guildhall Square

- it was reported that this would need the involvement of the Licensing Unit at the City Council.

·         It was noted that the hire bikes at the Hard had not had the anticipated level of usage, but that it remained a key location for a replacement scheme for consideration by the new provider

·         Councillor Chowdhury raised the issue of liability and advertising of the scheme - there would be a media campaign when the provider had been selected

Councillor Bosher was pleased that the cost of the scheme would not fall to the City Council but to the provider, through the Memorandum of Understanding. 

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation:

(1)       Supported the development of a floating bike hire scheme within Portsmouth and Delegates authority to the Director of Regeneration to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with a cycle hire organisation, but that the City Council maintains an 'Observer  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20