Staff at Oxford University will soon be able to use a free ‘pick up and pedal’ cycling scheme, inspired by those set up in London and several European cities.
The pilot will see cycle stations set up in Headington and the city centre, and is aimed at reducing congestion and carbon emissions.
Only a limited number of bicycles will be available at first, but if successful the service may be rolled out to include students and eventually the whole city.
The scheme uses technological advances to avoid previous problems such as theft. Users are required to register their debit card details as a security precaution.
Ed Wigzell, Sustainable Travel Officer for the University, said: “Advances in technology have enabled more recent schemes, such as those in Paris, London, Lyon and Brussels to be very successful. The University is very excited to be involved in introducing a similar scheme in Oxford.”It is thought that the national company OYbike will provide the bicycles and a system that uses text messages for hiring and returning. The scheme starts this winter.
