With summer here, public bike hire hubs are making it easier than ever to access the benefits of cycling in East Lothian.
Folding bikes can be hired for just £5 for 24 hours and are available for pick-up at community hubs across the county.
East Lothian Council has worked with Brompton, the bikes’ manufacturer, to enable the pioneering scheme. Anyone over 18 can book a bike using Brompton’s hire app and collect it from the libraries in Prestonpans, Dunbar, Haddington or Musselburgh.
The bikes can be booked up to 24 hours in advance of when they are needed. A carry bag is provided to easily store the bike if users are catching a bus during their travels.
A short video promoting the service, which was launched last year, has been produced through SEStran (South East of Scotland Transport Partnership).
Sustainable transport
Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, said: “Brompton virtual hub hires are an affordable, accessible, and user-friendly way to access the benefits of cycling without having to worry about servicing, storage or the upfront cost of buying your own bike.
“Whether you are heading into Edinburgh for the day and want to get from the station to the office as quickly as possible or are just looking to explore East Lothian on two wheels, a Brompton will travel with you on trains or buses with ease and allow you to leave the car behind.”
Sam Coldham, business development manager at Brompton, said: “Sustainable transport access like bike hiring is vital to enable communities to access mass transit solutions. This is the first virtual dock network hosted at community locations using folded bikes in the UK. We believe it will inspire similar solutions across the country.”