‘Beryl’ bike-share scheme hits green milestone

More than half a million journeys have been made on Watford’s Beryl bikes since the sharing scheme was launched in 2020.

That amounts to an incredible 190,000 hours of physical activity and, according to industry calculations, has saved over 51 tonnes of carbon emissions through people leaving their car at home –a significant boost for public health and the region’s air quality.

Journeys on the bikes from Beryl, the UK’s leading shared sustainable transport provider, have covered more than 1,340,000km since the partnership with Watford Borough Council started.

Beryl CEO and co-founder Phil Ellis said: “Reaching this milestone is excellent news and reaffirms just how successful shared sustainable transport has been in Watford over the past four years.”

The Beryl Annual Rider Report 2023 showed that the scheme has had a positive impact on rider behaviour in Watford, with 62 per cent of riders cycling more often or much more often, 33 per cent reducing their use of cars and 38 per cent reducing their use of taxis.

“Our riders really value the convenience and speed of bike share compared to other forms of transport. We also know that they value the multimodality of the scheme, with our e-bikes offering the electric assist that makes them ideal for commuting and more accessible to people with certain mobility issues.”

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: “I’m thrilled that so many residents are using Beryl bikes, proving that sustainable travel is being embraced in Watford. This success reinforces our commitment to providing green transport options that benefit both the community and environment.

“Watford was the first district council in the country to provide a bike share scheme, and Beryl bikes will remain central to our efforts to create a cleaner, less congested Watford for everyone.”

Earlier this year, Watford Borough Council announced its decision to extend its contract with Beryl until 2026.

For more information about Beryl schemes, please visit www.beryl.cc.