Bradford's Beryl bikes make almost 700 journeys in their first week

ALMOST 700 journeys have been made on Bradford’s new “Beryl bikes” by 450 users in their first week.

But despite “enthusiasm” for the e bike hire scheme, there have been several instances of vandalism, and Bradford Council says it is “supporting enforcement” to clamp down on misuse.

The scheme, sponsored by LNER, was launched on Tuesday 10, and figures detailing the first week have now been released by Beryl.

They show that since the scheme launched, riders have completed 684 journeys, travelling a combined total of 1,823 kilometres across the Bradford District.

A total of 450 people have registered to use the bikes via the Beryl app.

Peak usage has been recorded between 1pm and 4pm.

Since the scheme launched, numerous social media accounts and auditors have shared images of the bikes abandoned on Bradford streets.

Councillor Sirferaz Siddiq (Bradford Independents, Great Horton) re-posted images of some of the damaged bikes, saying: “Residents were told this would improve the city. Instead, we’re seeing bikes dumped in bushes, abandoned in parks, and left blocking pavements.”

But despite this, the figures from Beryl show that 95 per cent of journeys end in designated bays, and only 1 per cent concluded outside the service area.

The company issues a £10 charge when bikes are not parked correctly, and an additional out‑of‑area retrieval fee applies when bikes are taken beyond the service boundary.

People have to register to use the bikes, so the fines are automatically issued to their accounts.

The bikes also contain GPS tracking.

A statement from Bradford Council said: “These figures reflect a promising and encouraging start, with residents quickly integrating the e-bikes into their daily routines for leisure, commuting, and local errands.

“The scheme will continue to grow, as further bikes will be rolled out this week and additional docking bays will come online.

“Although a small number of vandalism incidents did occur over the weekend, the overall public response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We are working closely with Beryl, who operate the e‑bikes, and local policing teams to address these issues as a priority. This includes increasing monitoring at key locations, reviewing bike deployment, and supporting enforcement activity where unsafe or criminal behaviour is identified.

“The Beryl Street Team has been quick to respond, working across the district to identify, recover, repair, and re‑deploy bikes to ensure the service remains reliable and accessible.

“Their work plays a vital role in keeping the fleet in good condition and minimising disruption for users.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, commented: “Bradford’s new e‑bike scheme is already proving its value to our communities. It’s fantastic to see residents embracing a cleaner, healthier and more affordable way to travel, and the early levels of uptake show just how ready people are for positive change.

“This initiative is about improving access, supporting wellbeing, and offering real transport choices for everyone in our district, and we’re delighted to see such strong enthusiasm from day one.”