IN just a year Belfast's very own version of the 'Boris Bikes' has almost 6,000 regular users, who have made more than 191,000 journeys across the city.
The Coca Cola Zero Belfast Bikes scheme is now one year-old and shows no signs of slowing down with stations at the City and Royal hospitals due to be installed next month.
The Belfast scheme, which provides 33 docking stations and 330 bikes has proved to be a popular addition to the city, with more that 191,000 journeys undertaken by users, who have travelled an estimated 174,000km - four times the circumference of the earth.
There are currently 3,500 annual subscribers who pay £20 a year, and around 2,400 casual users who pay £5 for three days’ use.
Due to the uptake Belfast City Council is planning further expansion into three hospital sites and six community areas in the city.
While the bikes are available for hire 365 days a year, from 6am until midnight, the majority of journeys on Belfast Bikes occur on weekdays, with Thursday being the most popular day for cyclists.
The average rental time is just under 21 minutes, with the average distance travelled per journey 0.91 km. The Odyssey/Sydenham Road docking station is the most popular for rentals and returns, while the most popular journey is from Central Station/Mays Meadow to the Gasworks, along the Lagan Towpath.
Belfast Lord Mayor, Arder Carson, said: “The bike share scheme has enjoyed a hugely successful first year in operation. The popularity of the scheme clearly shows that the council were right to back this sort of transport in the city centre."
Andrew Grieve from the Department for Regional Development Cycling Unit added: “With an average of over 500 bicycle rentals each day, the number of people using the bicycle as a healthy, convenient and enjoyable way to travel within the city continues to grow. The availability of this scheme together with the new bicycle infrastructure in the city centre will help more people to have the freedom and confidence to travel by bicycle for everyday journeys.”
