Beryl’s shared micro-mobility scheme celebrates one million journeys in Norwich

Credit: Beryl

Beryl has announced that its shared bike, e-bike and e-scooter scheme in Norwich, operated in partnership with Norfolk County Council and National Grid, has reached a significant milestone. Since its launch in March 2020, riders have completed one million journeys, covering a total distance of three million kilometres.

User feedback indicates that nearly a quarter (23.6%) of bike, e-bike and e-scooter trips in Norwich have replaced road transport journeys, including car/van usage, taxis and motorcycles. Industry estimates suggest that this shift has resulted in saving over 156 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, which is comparable to 10,000 litres of petrol.

Beryl’s CEO and Co-founder, Phil Ellis, said: “We’re really proud of our Norwich scheme, which was pioneering in terms of being the first shared transport scheme in the UK to offer multiple modes under the same app. The scheme has been incredibly popular and that has enabled us to expand it to places such as Wymondham, removing the barriers to sustainable transport for even more people.”

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Councillor Lana Hempsall, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport at Norfolk County Council, said: “The green bikes and e-scooters are well known and increasingly popular across the greater Norwich area. With bays reaching Wymondham, Hethersett and Drayton, now more people than ever can benefit from access to this fantastic sustainable travel mode.”

The Beryl Annual Rider Report revealed that 40% of riders in Norwich have reduced their car usage since using Beryl, based on data obtained from 804 riders in September 2022. The report also indicated that riders in Norwich are more likely to try multiple modes, with bike, e-bike and e-scooter users almost doubling to 50%. In contrast, the percentage of exclusive bike riders dropped significantly from 25% to 7%.

The Norwich scheme initially launched as a bike share programme in March 2020, with e-bikes introduced on 27 July 2020, followed by e-scooters on 25 January 2021. Interested users can access Beryl Bikes or e-scooters through the Beryl app, available for free on iOS and Android platforms. E-scooter riders must possess a valid UK Driving Licence, and user feedback on their experiences with the vehicles is encouraged to support ongoing improvements.