To date close to 1,000 free journeys have been taken by key workers as a result of the BCP Council funded scheme, allowing them to undertake essential journeys for free, including to and from their place of work. Users have included paramedics, hospital porters, supermarket workers, homeless outreach workers, police officers, teachers, social care workers, refuse operatives, train guards, nurses and other NHS workers.

Councillor Andy Hadley, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure at BCP Council, said, “The take-up of this offer has been brilliant and shows how welcome the scheme is to those on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis. It is hugely rewarding to be able to help them fulfil their essential roles in these challenging times, and great to see so many other people using bikes for sensible exercise whilst the roads are quiet.

“I would ask those who are driving vehicles for essential reasons to remember to give people on bikes enough space, especially as they pass pedestrians cyclists may move out to try to give them more room.”

Philip Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Beryl Bikes said, “This initiative has been rolled out across all of our schemes in the UK, and the BCP area has enjoyed an exceptional uptake. The support we have received from BCP Council has enabled us to make this free access widely available to all key workers across Bournemouth and Poole.

“As we get used to this new way of life we are afforded the opportunity to see how we can do things differently. This initiative reminds us that there are greener, cleaner and healthier ways to travel. As we slowly go back to our daily commutes and non-essential activities, we hope even more of Bournemouth and Poole will choose active and sustainable transport.”

Safety is a core value of Beryl Bikes and, as such, users are encouraged to wash their hands before and after use, to stay two metres away from others whilst cycling and not to ride in groups. In addition, thanks to Poole-based company Muc-Off, Beryl teams are equipped with antibacterial spray to disinfect the bikes wherever possible.

Key workers wanting to use one of the Beryl Bikes available across 219 bays in the local area simply need to download the free Beryl Bikes app and share details of their key worker status with the Beryl team. NHS workers with access to an NHS email can use this to sign up and gain automatic access to free rides.

For further details contact Beryl at support@beryl.cc or visit https://help-bikes.beryl.cc/en/collections/1824108-bournemouth-and-poole.