Brighton’s BTN BikeShare Scheme to Hit the Brakes This Winter
Brighton & Hove’s popular BTN BikeShare scheme is stopping hires from 31 December as it gears up for a major revamp next year.
Bikes will start coming off the streets from 19 December, with the full pause in operation by year-end. After five years, the current fleet is aging and plagued by technical troubles.
Riding Into Trouble: Why the Scheme’s Pausing
Despite ongoing refurbishments, the bikes have worn out. More frustratingly, since April they’ve suffered from ongoing issues linked to Vodafone’s 3G signal – the system they rely on – which many blame for making a large chunk of the fleet unusable for months. Vodafone’s 3G is set to be switched off completely from 1 March.
Annual memberships and renewals have been on hold since May, but current members can claim refunds or donate leftover balances to local cycling charities. Pay-as-you-go users with £3+ in unused credits can also request refunds or donate.
What’s Coming: A Sleek New BTN BikeShare
The shutdown in winter, when usage dips, clears the way for a fresh start in 2023 with:
- A fleet upgrade adding lots of e-bikes – at least 60% electric
- 780 bikes overall: 312 pedal-only, plus 468 electric
- More docking stations across Brighton for wider coverage
- Flexible tariff plans for users
- New sponsorship deals to boost the scheme
Details on the relaunch timeline will be announced soon.
Wrangling with Vodafone and Technical Headaches
Council bosses slammed Vodafone for poor communication over the disruptive 3G problems. The city’s Chief Executive even wrote to Vodafone’s Board demanding solutions – but still no reply.
These tech glitches have sucked up resources, impacting repairs and maintenance. The software provider agreed to keep services running until 31 December but had to hike costs due to ongoing issues.
Councillor Steve Davis admitted the pause is frustrating but insisted it’s necessary for safety and quality. “We’re committed to bringing back a better, bigger BTN BikeShare with new bikes and electric options,” he said.
He praised council and operator staff for keeping the wheels turning despite tough times.
Brighton’s Proud Bike Scheme Gets a Fresh Spin
Launching in 2017, BTN BikeShare quickly became a hit, clocking more than 1.75 million rides covering nearly 4 million miles.
The revamped scheme promises to build on that success, introducing e-bikes, more pricing choices, and a bigger fleet to make cycling around the city even easier.
Brighton & Hove can look forward to a snappier, fresher BTN BikeShare bouncing back in 2023 – keeping the city cycling in style.
