Greater Manchester bike hire scheme moves a step closer as leaders look to sign off funding for first phase

Funding for Greater Manchester’s new regional bike hire scheme is expected to be signed off by leaders next week.

Almost £12m will be committed towards the first phase which will be rolled across Manchester, Salford and Trafford.

The scheme will launch in November with around 1,500 bikes and 300 e-bikes expected to be available by mid-2022.

There are hopes that it will prove to be a hit among students and commuters, as well as those living in disadvantaged areas.

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A regional bike hire scheme has long been promised since Chinese firm Mobike pulled their own project from Manchester in 2018 just a year after launching.

The city earned the dubious honour of being the first city in the world to lose Mobike after some of the dockless bikes were stolen and vandalised.

More than 200 docking stations have been proposed in the first phase of the new bike hire scheme in a bid to prevent history from repeating itself.

The city earned the honour of being the first city in the world to lose Mobike after a number of bikes were stolen and vandalised. (April Preston)

An operator has been awarded a five-year service contract by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) following a competitive tender process.

A report to the GMCA, which will vote on approving the funding on Friday June 25, says: “The preferred supplier has been selected following an extensive procurement exercise, including financial due diligence.

“The preferred supplier has experience of implementing and operating similar schemes elsewhere in England.”

It is estimated that it will cost the chosen service provider £2,613 per bike to get the network up and running, according to the report.

Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham and transport commissioner Chris Boardman are expected to give more details at the launch of the proposed Clean Air Plan on Monday.

The plan also includes the Clean Air Zone, which would see vans, buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and lorries that fail to meet emission targets pay a daily charge.

Mr Burnham has previously described bike hire as an ‘integral’ part of the Bee Network, an integrated public transport system covering buses, trams, walking, cycling and taxis.