Train operator LNER has been announced as the lead sponsor of the Leeds City Bikes scheme in a deal put together by PHAR Partnerships
The scheme, consisting of a fleet that is growing to well over 500 bikes in and around the city centre, aims to encourage people to make more sustainable journeys, with bays located at key locations across the city.
The collaboration marks a major sustainable travel initiative for the region, linking rail and cycling for seamless, eco-friendly journeys. As part of the agreement, the entire Leeds e-bike scheme will be rebranded as LNER Beryl Bikes.
The sponsorship from LNER will enable scheme operator Beryl and the train company to create exciting new opportunities to connect rail and cycle transport. The partnership will make it easier for people to combine train and bike travel, helping visitors and residents choose greener ways to get around Leeds.
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said:
“It's great that LNER are backing our e-bike hire scheme, which has already helped people make thousands of journeys across Leeds. We’ll be working closely with Beryl Bikes and Leeds City Council to ensure this investment continues to help improve the service and encourage more people to choose sustainable forms of transport,” adding that the e-bikes would eventually become part of the Weaver Network - bringing together West Yorkshire’s bus, tram, rail and e-bikes under a single brand “as we build a greener, better-connected West Yorkshire that works for all.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s Deputy Leader, said:
“Our transport strategy sets out an ambition to increase the number of cycle trips on scheme routes by 400% by 2030, and partnerships like this one with LNER help us get there. By linking rail and bike travel, we’re making it easier for people to choose low-carbon journeys that are good for their health, their wallets, and the environment.”
Warrick Dent, safety and operations director at LNER, said:
"This exciting new partnership with Beryl in Leeds is another step towards our goal of becoming Net Zero by 2045. When the opportunity came up it was the perfect fit for us."
Philip Ellis, chief executive officer of the scheme’s operator Beryl, said:
"This collaboration helps to maximise the utility of e-bikes in Leeds, connecting the public e-bike scheme with the rail network, allowing residents and visitors alike to minimise their carbon footprint with sustainable travel."
