Bike share docking stations pop up around Brighton and Hove

One was installed next to the Brighton Pier this week, with nine more scheduled to be built by Sunday (July 9).

The next docking stations to pop up will be along the seafront outside the Brighton Centre, opposite the Grand Hotel and Metropole, close to the Peace Statue, at Hove Lawns Cafe, on Madeira Drive, at New England Street, London Road and at Preston Park.

Set to launch in early September, BTN BikeShare will offer 450 smart bicycles with built-in GPS and wireless capabilities.

Users will be able to locate and rent the bikes locked in any location across the city via an app, or online. Dropping off is equally simple - riders can return bikes to any docking station or lock them up at any legal location around the city.

Tim Caswell, owner of Hourbike, the company providing and operating the scheme, said: “As more and more docking stations are unveiled around the city, residents will begin to truly see the scheme taking shape, amplifying the buzz and anticipation.

"We wanted to offer something new to Brighton AND Hove, which is why we chose Sobi smart bikes – the first UK city bike scheme to feature this high-tech brand used in New York, Portland and Santa Monica. Now we’re eager to get more local businesses on board and see the bikes come alive.”

Following the announcement of Life Natural Spring Water as the bike share’s headline sponsor, the scheme is now inviting other local businesses to sponsor the bikes with packages ranging from £5k to £50k. Sponsorship enquiries should be sent to Tim Caswell, [email protected].

It will cost £1.80 an hour to rent a bike, or cyclists can buy an annual membership for £72, with one hour of use a day.