Plans to temporarily close a number of cycle hire stations across Greater Manchester have been confirmed following a rise in vandalism.
It comes after Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) revealed last month that, despite the “continued success” of the new scheme – which saw nearly 1,000 yellow bicycles rolled out across Manchester, Salford, and Trafford late last year – and the recent expansion to new areas, there has also been “a significant rise” in acts of vandalism over the last few weeks.
This has created a “large backlog” of bikes that need repairing.
According to TfGM, as of 23 June, there were 379 bikes out on the network, and 564 awaiting repairs and maintenance.
Several ‘bee bike’ hire stations to be closed across Manchester following rise in vandalism / Credit: TfGM
The Greater Manchester Cycle Hire scheme has “continued to grow in popularity” following its launch back in November 2021, with a whopping 64,350 active users, and more than one million kilometres ridden since then – but if the scheme is to continue being a success and serving its purpose, TfGM says it will need to introduce new measures to ensure there are enough fully-functioning bikes available for people to use.
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TfGM and bike operators Beryl say they will now work together through the ‘TravelSafe Partnership’ with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to “take further steps” and “temporary measures” in a bid to help restore the full cycle hire service “as quickly as possible”.
This means that some cycle hire stations will be suspended temporarily, so that there are more bikes available in areas where users have been the most active.
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TfGM says the new measures will ensure the scheme is a “continued success” in the future / Credit: TfGM
There will be a short-term suspension of around a quarter of the stations while Beryl works on the backlog of repairs, TfGM has confirmed, with people encouraged to use the Beryl app to find their nearest location.
The intention is to start reintroducing bikes back to these stations from September, TfGM says.
On top of this, also in a bid to decrease the number of acts of vandalism, TfGM has confirmed that increased fines for users who do not comply with Cycle Hire rules around locking and returning bikes will be introduced, as unlocked and abandoned bikes are “more susceptible to theft and vandalism”.
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We're making some temporary changes to cycle hire, but don't worry, we're on it.
From today at 12pm some bike stations will be suspended temporarily but we'll have more bikes in the places where people use them the most.
We're sorry if this affects your journey.
— Transport for Greater Manchester 🚲🚶🏾♀️ (@OfficialTfGM) July 31, 2023
“The Greater Manchester Cycle Hire scheme is extremely popular and well-used, and an integral part of our plans for the Bee Network,” Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said.
“Unfortunately, a spike in vandalism over recent weeks has resulted in fewer bikes being available for people to hire, but we’re confident that the changes being made will strengthen the service and enable us to restore the number of bikes out on the network as soon as possible.
“That includes enhanced enforcement, and right now there are people in the control room monitoring our bikes and stations and staff and police out patrolling the areas where our bikes are.”
The Mayor added that he will “take whatever action is necessary” to ensure this scheme continues to be a success for Greater Manchester in the future.
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
‘The average cost of a pint’ in the UK by region, according to the latest data
Danny Jones
Does it feel like pints keep getting more and more expensive almost every week at this point? Yes. Yes, it does, and while you can’t expect a city as big as Manchester to be one of the cheapest places to get one in the UK, we do often wonder how it compares to other parts of the country.
Well, as it happens, someone has recently crunched the numbers for us across the nation, breaking down which regions pay the most and the least for their pints.
The data has been examined by business management consultancy firm, CGA Strategy, using artificial intelligence and information from the latest Retail Price Index figures to find out what the ‘average cost of a pint’ is down south, up North and everywhere in between.
While the latest statistics provided by the group aren’t granular enough to educate us on Greater Manchester’s pint game exactly, we can show you how our particular geographic region is looking on the leaderboard at the moment.
That’s right, we Mancunians and the rest of the North West are technically joint mid-table when it comes to the lowest average cost of a pint, sharing the places from 3rd to 8th – according to CGA, anyway.
Powered by consumer intelligence company, NIQ (NielsenIQ) – who also use AI and the latest technology to deliver their insights – we can accept it might seem like it’s been a while since you’ve paid that little for a pint, especially in the city centre, but these are the stats they have published.
Don’t shoot the messenger, as they say; unless, of course, they’re trying to rob you blind for a bev. Fortunately, we’ve turned bargain hunting at Manchester bars into a sport at this point.
We might not boast the lowest ‘average’ pint cost in the UK, but we still have some bloody good places to keep drinking affordable.
London tops the charts (pretends to be shocked)
While some of you may have scratched your eyes at the supposed average pint prices here in the North West, it won’t surprise any of you to see that London leads the way when it came to the most expensive pint when it came to average cost in the UK.
To be honest, £5.44 doesn’t just sound cheap but virtually unheard of these days.
CGA has it that the average cost of a beer in the British capital is actually down 15p from its price last September, but as we all know, paying upwards of £7 for a pint down that end of the country is pretty much par for the course the closer you get to London.
Yet more reason you can be glad you live around here, eh? And in case you thought you were leaving this article with very little, think again…
Emily Sergeant -
1st August 2023 
