Lib Dems call for cycle hire scheme

10.21.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Jun 2008

Norwich Liberal Democrats will call on the City Council to investigate the possibility of establishing a cycle hire scheme across the city this Tuesday.

Judith Lubbock, Eaton Liberal Democrat City Councillor, will put forward the proposal during a debate on cycle provision in Norwich. Cllr Lubbock will call on the council to look into the feasibility of a scheme similar to those operating in Paris, Brussels and Barcelona. Bristol City Council has also put forward a hire scheme, and this week won a total of £11.4 million funding from the Department for Transport for a number of projects to encourage cycling in the city.

Councillor Lubbock said:

"A cycle hire scheme would give everybody in Norwich easy access to a bike. People who don't currently own a bike would be able to find out for themselves how quick and easy it is to get around on a cycle under this scheme. A successful hire scheme could potentially result in a significant increase in the number of people who regularly cycle, which in turn could take cars and other vehicles off our roads."

"We've been badly let down by Norfolk County Council who failed to bid for any of the £100million of Government money that was on offer to cities such as Norwich to develop cycling provision. We must now grab the initiative or Norwich will be left behind cities such as Cambridge, Colchester and Bristol who have all won investment for cycling. It's so important that our local authorities encourage sustainable transport in the city."

The project works on the basis that people can pick up and drop off bikes at various locations throughout the city and users pay as they use. It would be hoped that it would help tackle congestion and climate change.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Rosalind Wright, who will be seconding Cllr Lubbock's proposal, said:

"This is all about making cycling a fundamental part of an integrated public transport system across Norwich. We want to make cycling as easy as possible for everyone, and we want to encourage those who don't own or have access to a bike to sign up to a scheme and join a growing body of people who are choosing to leave their cars at home to cycle around the city. A hire scheme could do just that."

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Simon Wright said:

"More and more people are feeling the squeeze of increasing fuel costs. As well as the increasing cost of motoring, our local bus services are also affected through rising fares or reduced services due to the high cost of fuel. There has never been a better time to encourage more cycling in our city. Cycle hire schemes have proved to be very popular in some European cities, and it would be brilliant if we could replicate that, even on a smaller scale, here in Norwich."