Councillors to decide whether Beryl gets new bike share contract

The city council must decide whether to renew its contract with bike hire company Beryl.

Worcester’s bike hire scheme, which is run by Beryl, is being scaled back after proving less popular than expected. The bikes have attracted half the number of rides and brought in only 60 per cent of the income predicted since the scheme was launched in June 2024.

David Sutton, deputy director for policy and strategy, said Beryl has had operational difficulties related to losing its depot in Birmingham.

“I’m pleased to say work we’re doing and Beryl are doing is now on the up,” he told a meeting of the council’s place and economic development committee on Wednesday (June 10).

“I think there’s about 75 bikes active in the city at the moment and we’re moving up towards that total of 100 that will be kept active.”

He said the council and Beryl will be looking to promote the scheme over the summer.

Councillor Elena Round said: “I think we’ve been let down by Beryl Bikes in terms of what’s been promised and what’s been delivered.

“A lot of residents are feeling disappointed that when they do rent a bike, it’s not roadworthy.

“Are Beryl going to come to us and give residents something back for putting up with Beryl and their shocking service?”

Mr Sutton said the committee is set to meet at the end of the summer to decide whether the council renews its contract with Beryl, which expires in November 2027. “I recognise what you’ve said about some disappointing performance and Beryl recognise it themselves,” he said.

“I think the rollout was successful and the scheme worked really well to start with, but the combination of the usage being much lower than they thought it would be, the length of rides being shorter, has meant servicing that wider footprint was really challenging.

“And also operating out of a depot in Birmingham which they then lost due to another contract just made it almost unsustainable at that point.”

Mr Sutton said Beryl has now had a “reset” and said he feels more positive about the future of the scheme.

“It appears they’re making efforts to get the service back up and running, and using St Martin’s Gate car park as a local base,” he said.

Written by Phil Wilkinson Jones