The Ovo bike hire scheme has returned to the streets of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, operator Nextbike has announced.
From Thursday, January 13, customers will once again be able to use the bikes, which have returned after a two-month hiatus.
Nextbike took all its bikes off the streets of Cardiff in November after 300 were stolen and 260 were vandalised. It was the first time the company, which has similar schemes across the UK, has had to suspend its operation because of thefts and vandalism.
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The scheme will initially return with 400 bikes with a focus on the most-used stations with plans to add more bikes over the next two months.
Since the suspension Nextbike says they have been "working hard" to get the scheme running again, including being part of the formation of the Cardiff cycle crime reduction partnership.
Nextbike MD Krysia Solheim said: “It’s a relief to be back on the streets of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. We know our customers have missed having access to the Ovo Bikes schemes.
"Bike share is a fantastic, affordable, and healthy way to move around our towns and cities – not to mention the fact that it’s one of the best ways of reducing harmful transport emissions.
“Initially we will be launching with a smaller fleet but it won’t stop there. We’ll keep increasing bikes throughout the next few months to ensure we’re at full strength in time for spring.”
Ms Solheim added that they had introduced a number of initiatives in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the problems they faced last year.
“We’ve enhanced bike security, we’ve given our staff body cameras, and we’ve also increased staff numbers by almost 25%," she said.
"We’ve also reviewed the station network – we’ve installed several new e-bike stations to increase the number of locations you can return e-bikes to and will be adding additional electric stations this month."
She added that a number of standard stations that have seen high levels of vandalism and low usage will be relocated with those locations remaining under review for the future.
Nextbike's IT team has also introduced new features in the app to increase information to customers and for reporting stranded bikes.
Ms Solheim said that Nextbike will be increasing fines for bikes returned outside of stations to further discourage customers from this behaviour.
“We’re working closely with a number of valued partners including South Wales Police in a cycle crime reduction partnership to help nip any issue in the bud," she said.
“Now all we need is for the local community to get behind us by using the scheme correctly, returning bikes to official stations to make it harder for thieves and vandals to damage or steal them.
"We’re also encouraging people to report any problems they see immediately to the police so those people who break the law can be held to account.”
Inspector Darren Grady, from South Wales Police, said: “Nextbike is an excellent facility which allows residents and visitors to travel around Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan in a convenient and environmentally-friendly manner.
“The minority who steal or vandalise these bikes ruin the facility for others and we are committed to working with Nextbike and the local authority to continue clamping down on this mindless behaviour.
“Abuse of Nextbike employees, theft, and vandalism will not be tolerated and our neighbourhood policing teams are extremely proactive in arresting those responsible.
“We are delighted to see the bikes back on the streets and we appeal to the community to help protect the scheme.”
To celebrate their return Nextbike is offering everyone a £5 credit voucher code – RELAUNCH22.
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