Belfast Bikes Usage Declines After Price Increase
The Belfast bicycle rental scheme has experienced a 25% decrease in usage since a significant price increase was implemented.
The updated Belfast Bikes scheme was relaunched in September last year, with Beryl assuming operational control and introducing electric bikes (e-bikes) to the fleet.
The scheme faced criticism due to price hikes, including a year-long membership fee rising to £120, which is nearly five times the previous cost.
Belfast City Council stated that the recent rental figures "reflect a period of transition" and emphasized that the new pricing structures provide users with "flexibility." The council noted that rentals were impacted by a reduced number of bicycles during the initial installation phase and the requirement for users to register new accounts with Beryl.
The council expressed optimism about the "steady growth in new sign-ups" and anticipates an increase in usage in the coming months and throughout the summer.
'Not very visible'
Between September and March this year, nearly 51,800 rentals were recorded, according to data obtained by NI. This figure contrasts with almost 69,500 rentals during the same period the previous year, representing a decline exceeding 25%.
This is also the second-lowest rental total for the September to March period since Belfast Bikes commenced operations in 2015.
Meg Hoyt, chair of the Belfast Cycle Campaign group, urged the council to make the scheme "as affordable and friction-less as possible."
"Our view is that the price change probably had a significant impact on numbers in the short term,"
she said. Hoyt further commented that Belfast "badly needs joined-up cycling infrastructure," describing the current provisions as "patchy, difficult to negotiate and not very visible."
The council's figures were released in response to a Freedom of Information request.
The data also indicates that since their introduction, e-bikes have been more popular than standard pedal bicycles, with nearly 29,900 e-bike journeys recorded between last September and March, compared to just over 21,900 for pedal bikes.
The bike-sharing scheme was initially introduced in Belfast over a decade ago. At one point, nearly 40% of the rental bikes were out of service due to vandalism.
Green Party councillor Brian Smyth commented on the scheme's progress, stating that the revamped Belfast Bikes initiative requires "a few months for it to get fully up to speed."
"What we would be looking at is the next data, the next quarter data coming through,"
he said. Smyth, representing east Belfast, also indicated that the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) should enhance efforts to promote cycling and address safety concerns. He described the Stormont department as "car dominant" and called for further advancement of active travel measures such as cycle lanes.
Anne Madden, policy manager at the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, acknowledged that the new pricing structures offer "more flexibility with passes and bundles." She noted that surveys conducted by the trust identified a "lack of good cycling infrastructure and safety concerns" as the primary obstacles to increasing bike usage.
Madden also highlighted that survey data suggests the "vast majority" of rental bike users are men, emphasizing that this "gender gap needs to be seriously addressed."
'Steady growth of new sign-ups'
Belfast City Council and Beryl, the company appointed by the local authority to operate the bike scheme, were contacted for comment.
In a statement, the council said:
"Current user figures reflect a period of transition following the launch in September 2025, where bike numbers were reduced during initial installation, and all existing and new users were required to download the Beryl app and register a new account to access the upgraded fleet."
The council added that it was "encouraged by the steady growth in new sign-ups" and noted that journeys last month increased compared to March in the previous year. It expects this trend to "continue in the months ahead and over the summer."
Regarding pricing, the council explained that the revamped scheme "introduced a new suite of pricing tariffs to offer flexibility for users including pay as you ride, minute bundles, student discount and corporate memberships."
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) stated that it remains "committed to improving active travel opportunities." A spokesperson noted that "significant progress" has been made on most short-term schemes outlined in the Belfast Cycling Network Delivery Plan.
They added:
"Prioritisation of future schemes on the Belfast Cycling Network will be determined with consideration to the emerging Eastern Transport Plan."
