Cycle hire scheme changes

Slough’s bicycle hire scheme is coming to an end while a new provider is sought.

Slough Cycle Hire launched in 2013 and grew to include 17 cycle hire stations throughout the town. For just £1, pay as you go members could cycle for up to an hour, or cyclists could choose a daily pass or have a monthly membership. 

It meant people were able to dock the bikes across Slough, including at Slough and Burnham train stations, on the Slough trading estate and in popular shopping areas in Langley.

The current scheme will close on 1 July, as the council can no longer subsidise it. 

However, the council is issuing a new tender for a new supplier who can run a modernised scheme at no cost to the council and one which could potentially include e-bikes and newer, lighter bikes.
 
Cllr Mohammed Nazir, lead member for transport and the local environment, said: “Thank you to everyone who has supported and enjoyed the Slough Cycle Hire scheme. While it has served us well up until this point, the council can no longer subsidise it. 

“We remain committed to sustainable travel, and we are currently looking into alternative schemes. We are optimistic we can find a new provider who can bring a revitalised scheme to the town and encourage people to get on a bike to make their journeys, rather than always hopping in the car. If we reduce the number of short car journeys we make, the local environment will be cleaner and safer.”

Any users who bought a subscription that is valid after the closing date will be refunded on a pro-rata basis. Daily passes will continue to be available until 30 June. 

Once out of action, the team will be working with community groups to see if they can make use of the bikes and others will be repurposed and given away to a charity who will issue them to low-income individuals. 

The transport team will review responses to the tender to help relaunch a cycle hire scheme in Slough. 

The council was recently awarded £10.4m to create a cycle highway route, so retaining a bike share scheme is important to encourage more people of all ages to try out cycling and be confident on Slough’s roads. 

For future updates on the scheme, please visit the cycle hire webpage.

If you have any questions, email betterby@slough.gov.uk 

Published: 6 June 2022