TfGM prepares bike hire plan

Transport for Greater Manchester is drawing up plans for a public bike hire system covering the whole of the conurbation. The work comes amid reports that Mobike’s dockless scheme in Manchester/Salford is suffering from low levels of bike availability. 

LTT understands that TfGM shelved plans to tender for a dock-based bike hire scheme last year when Mobike offered a dockless scheme in Manchester/Salford with 1,000 bikes. Mobike has since expanded into Stockport. Reports suggest only a fraction of the bikes are available for hire, with many off the road for maintenance. 

Asked for its views on bike hire this week, a TfGM spokeswoman said: “A convenient and cost-effective bike hire scheme covering the whole of the city region is an essential part of our strategy [for active travel] and will mean that everyone can join our transport revolution. We will be able to share plans for bike access in the coming months.”

A Mobike spokeswoman said: “Over a year after its first UK launch, Mobike remains fully committed to Manchester.”

Mobike, a Chinese start-up, now operates in more than 200 cities across 15 countries. Chinese e-commerce giant Meituan bought the company for an undisclosed sum earlier this year (LTT 27 Apr).