What would be the Mancunian version of the Boris Bikes ?

Velib bike hire scheme in Paris.

Back in June, the Manchester Evening News ran a story entitled "Council in bid to make Manchester 'cycle city' with bicycle hire scheme". Despite being a little confused about the difference between Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester, the article reported that "transport bosses" said that they would "look at possibilities for private funding to roll-out a city-wide scheme, like those in London and Paris."


A bike hire scheme had been mooted in the original Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid but since the TIF bid, commonly referred to as the Congestion Charge, was rejected in December 2008 there has been little public discussion of such schemes until the launch of the Brompton Dock scheme at Piccadilly station in March 2012

However, a little electronic birdie delivered an interesting document into this blogs inbox. Entitled 'Terms of Reference: Cycle Hire in Greater Manchester ' the document states that:

"Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is undertaking a study to explore the feasibility of establishing cycle hire schemes for improving sustainable access to key destinations, including employment. Apart from small, local schemes, cycle-hire has not previously been operated in Greater Manchester and this work is being undertaken to understand the role it could potentially fulfil within the wider transport network and the requirements, feasibility, costs and liabilities for setting up and operating a scheme."

The study objectives are to:

• understand the market for cycle hire in the context of Greater Manchester and advise on its potential.

And if the potential for cycle hire is identified to:

• identify the options for the development and operation of cycle-hire schemes; and 
• develop a recommended option for a cycle-hire scheme.

The study is also expected to explore the feasibility of developing and operating cycle-hire in:

• the wider Regional Centre (Manchester City Centre and parts of neighbouring areas of Salford and Trafford; and 
• other locations in Greater Manchester.

The study will be undertaken in 2 stages:

Stage 1: Determining the potential market and role for cycle-hire in Greater Manchester.

Stage 2: Subject to the outcome of Stage 1, Stage 2 will develop and recommend detailed proposals.
 
The consultants will be required to produce conclusions on the potential for operating cycle-hire in Greater Manchester - specifically taking into account:

• Contribution to enhancing sustainable access to key destinations;
• Key markets and origin-destination movements which would be served;
• Potential demand and whether this is likely to justify the set-up and operation of a scheme;
• Types of cycle scheme which may be suitable for operation in Greater Manchester; and
• Lessons learned from schemes operated in similar locations.

Timescales.

The deadline for consultancy firms to bid for the scoping study is 28th September 2012 and the final report for Stage 1 is 26th November 2012.

It will be very interesting to see what findings the successful applicants come up with.... that is assuming that TfGM make the consultants findings public.   Watch this space......