Poole to retender bike share contract

BIKE HIRE

Bournemouth and Poole councils are to retender for a dockless bike hire scheme after failing to reach agreement with their preferred operator. 

The councils selected a preferred operator earlier this year  for a scheme featuring 1,000 bikes. However, the operator subsequently proved unable to meet the proposed launch date this summer. The councils say further delays left them with “no option but to retender the opportunity this autumn for a spring launch in 2019”. 

Nick Phillips, the Borough of Poole Council’s accessibility team leader, said: “Bike share will be a great success in Bournemouth and Poole and it’s disappointing that our residents and visitors aren’t currently benefitting from this affordable, healthy and environmentally friendly form of transport. 

“However, we are also aware that the bike share industry is continually developing with new technologies and it’s essential we secure the best solution for our area from the outset. 

“We’ve therefore taken the decision to re-engage with all suppliers and are confident a solution will be available on our streets in spring 2019.”