University's bicycle bank experiment (From The Oxford Times)

University's bicycle bank experiment

5:00pm Thursday 6th September 2007

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OXFORD is set to follow Paris by rolling out a bicycle loan scheme to combat worsening traffic congestion and pollution levels.

Oxford University is to introduce a pilot scheme this winter for its staff, who will be offered a free 'pick-up-and-pedal' bicycle service. Oxford Brookes is also expected to sign up for the trial.

The elaborate scheme will involve creating bicycle stations in Headington and the city centre, where dons and other university staff will be able to pick up and drop off bicycles.

It is hoped the scheme may be expanded firstly to include students and later to the whole city, with up to 2,000 hire bicycles made available and high-tech bicycle stations scattered across the city in what would amount to a new form of public transport.

Oxford University has already held talks with Oxford City Council and bus companies about a city-wide scheme, with the university wanting to create bicycle-hire stations in the city's park-and-rides.

A decade ago a bicycle loan scheme ended disastrously in Cambridge, with hundreds of bicycles being stolen. But the university believes technology now exists which allows bicycles to be safely secured and released to registered users.

A massive scheme, involving thousands of low-cost rental bicycles at hundreds of high-tech bicycle stations was launched in Paris in July. Schemes also exist in other European cities.

Hammersmith and boroughs in London want to offer rental bicycles outside tube stations. But Oxford University's sustainable travel officer, Ed Wigzell, believes Oxford could become one of the first cities in England to introduce an extensive free or low rental bicycle hire service.

Mr Wigzell said: "We originally thought about having a system available to everyone and the city council was enthusiastic. But the university wants to move this forward with Brookes in order to get things going. We hope the council will still be interested once it has seen a scheme working successfully in Oxford."

He expected the first bicycle stations to be set up at the John Radcliffe and Churchill hospital sites, Brookes University's Gipsy Lane campus and its School of Health in Marston Road. Other stations are planned at the university's Old Road Campus and at locations in the city centre.

The scheme, which should start early next year, will be free for university staff. But initially it will only involve a few dozen bicycles.

Security will be the key to the scheme. Bicycles would be secured using cables attached to the bicycles, with stands equipped with electronic locks displaying codes. Users would have to register and give debit card details to prevent bicycles not being returned.

The university would most likely use a national provider, such as OYbike, which has developed a network system which allows bicycles to be hired and returned via mobile phones, with pin codes sent by text.

Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for transport, David Robertson, expressed enthusiasm for the plan after seeing a bicycle scheme in Barcelona. Mr Robertson said: "The council will be interested in the results of this experiment."

Oxford Brookes University's sustainable travel committee discussed the pilot scheme on Tuesday, as a way of reducing car journeys. Spokesman David Penney said: "We are investigating its feasibility and how it could be paid for."

Earlier in the summer the city council's east area committee considered piloting a similar scheme for residents in East Oxford. Craig Simmons, city council Green group leader, said: "If the scheme is successful we will be lobbying hard to extend it to East Oxford and the area parliament will be ready to put funds in to make it happen."

The pilot scheme is the second radical solution to Oxford's congestion problems being championed by the university. The university also wants a European-style 'shared space' system, which involves vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians sharing road space, introduced at the busy Parks Road-South Park Road junction, near the University science area.

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