A new cycling scheme, piloted in Sutton Coldfield, has gone live in the town today (March 8), before being rolled out across the West Midlands later this year.

New bike stands have already appeared at Sutton Park and across the town as part of the new cycle hire scheme championed by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

Now the scheme, piloted in Sutton Coldfield last month, has gone live in the town and in Wolverhampton and customers can hire the bikes via an app at a cost £1 to unlock a bike and 5p per minute after that. This means a 20 minute cycle will cost £2 and an hour £4.

Docking stations have appeared in the town centre, at Beeches Walk and at three Sutton Park gates, including Town Gate, Boldmere Gate and Banners Gate.

The scheme will also go live in Coventry, Birmingham, Stourbridge, Walsall and Solihull in the summer.

Eventually there will be 170 fixed docking stations and 1,500 bikes for hire, of which 150 will be powered e-bikes.

The bikes are also fitted with high quality laser safety lights.

Mayor Street, has welcomed the initiative. He said: “I know the people of Sutton will be itching to get involved now they can see the docks and bikes, and I look forward to seeing the first residents of the royal town trying the bikes out.”

“As well as providing a great opportunity for more people to take up cycling – these bikes also made here in the West Midlands, supporting local jobs and businesses.”.

The scheme, which will include a mixture of three speed and electric bikes, is run by Serco, who operate the so-calledBoris Bikes in London on behalf of TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

To find out more visit the website at: https://www.wmcyclehire.co.uk/