Sustainable shared transport provider Beryl and scheme partners Watford Borough Council are celebrating a significant milestone for the town’s bike and e-bike share scheme...
Riders have now clocked up one million kilometres since the scheme was first launched in March 2020 - the equivalent of almost 25 journeys around the Earth.
Feedback from users shows that, on average, nearly a fifth of the 347,000 bike, and e-bike journeys made in Watford have replaced road transport journeys - including driving a car/van, being a passenger in a car/van, using a taxi or riding a motorbike or moped.
According to industry calculations, this equates to over 43 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions saved; the equivalent of more than 19,000 litres of petrol.
Beryl CEO and co-founder, Phil Ellis, said: “This is a great achievement for our Watford scheme, which has had a significant impact in decarbonising the borough’s transport system.
“The numbers show that the scheme is increasing in popularity year on year and is helping to reduce traffic levels, get people more active and clean up the region’s air by cutting harmful emissions.
“By offering people a sustainable alternative to the car, we’re not only helping them to save money on expenses such as fuel, parking, storage, tax, MOT and maintenance, we’re also enabling them to get more active and improve their mental and physical wellbeing.”
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Three years ago, in collaboration with Beryl, we launched our bike-share program, and I am thrilled that we have met this amazing milestone of 1 million kilometres covered. Thank you to everyone who has embraced Beryl bikes as a viable option for traveling around Watford. I am committed to delivering sustainable transport solutions that promote cleaner air and reduce congestion. Beryl bikes will continue to be a key part of this work.”
The scheme has made a difference to the lives of many people across the town, including Zara Torres. The 36-year-old mother began using Beryl services in April this year. She was first attracted by the additional power of the e-bikes, which make it easier for her to keep up with her young son on his push scooter.
This has made days out much easier for Zara, who says that days out at the park aren’t quite the physical challenge they once were. Using a Beryl e-bike has also been a gateway to getting fitter and stronger, with Zara using them to get to and from the gym instead of relying on buses.
“The additional power makes my ride effortless and fun, instead of feeling like you are exercising when riding uphill.” she said.
Beryl’s Annual Rider Report, which surveyed 172 users in Watford during September 2022, showed that 42% of all riders asked had reduced their car usage since using Beryl vehicles.
The report also showed that users in Watford had embraced variety and, compared to 2021, were much more likely to try multiple modes. The number of people riding bikes and e-bikes vastly increased from 41% to 73%, while the number of riders just using bikes more than halved from 48% in 2021 to just 20%.
You can hire a Beryl bike or an e-bike through the Beryl app, available for free download on the App Store for iOS, and the Google Play Store for Android users.
A B-Corp registered company, Beryl is recognised for meeting exceptional standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
