Councillors told to get on bikes and lead by example

There are 501 e-bikes in Plymouth to hire

Plymouth councillors have been told to lead by example and get on bikes to travel to meetings if they want citywide action on climate change.

The comment came as they endorsed a new three-year initiative towards becoming net zero by 2030.

The net-zero action plan includes introducing kerbside food waste collections,  a new electric car club and zero-emission buses, and more community-based schemes.

Cllr Natalie Harrison (Con, Plympton St Mary) said councillors could all act as role models for more sustainable ways to travel.

She said 510 e-bikes called Beryl Bikes are in 104 locations in Plymouth.

“I fully support the plan and it mentions that councillors need to get more involved, but not how. I would encourage councillors to make use of the Beryl Bikes that are available in all our communities. They can use them to go to meetings.

“We could all be out there role-modelling and promoting the use of Beryl Bikes and pedalling more often. We can support each other by doing this.”

The bikes, named after British champion cyclist Beryl Burton, were introduced in the city last year as part of the council’s Connect Plymouth initiative to increase sustainable transport.

More EV charging points – 32 across ten locations – and the new electric car club are also part of Connect Plymouth.

All the projects are being funded by the Department of Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund which awarded almost £60 million to the city council in 2019 and 2020.

Cyclists use an app to pay for single rides or multiple journeys, with a £1 fee to unlock the cycle, and then 15p a minute. Discounts are available for paying in advance.

Power from e-bikes enables riders to tackle hills and undertake longer journeys.

The electric car hire service will be run by Co Wheels, a community-based organisation. Initially it will have two vehicles, rising to 10 over the next few years, based at Exchange Street car park on the Barbican. They can be parked in any residential permit zone free during their hire.

A similar service offering electric vehicles and bikes based in Exeter and supported by Devon County Council went bust last year.

Councillor Tom Briars-Delve (Lab, Stoke), cabinet member for environment and climate change, said not only were the cars a greener option, but driving them occasionally could be cheaper than buying and maintaining petrol or diesel vehicles.

He said the net zero-action plan, which set out a pathway towards reducing the city’s carbon output, needed the backing of residents and organisations that contributed to city life.

Actions are split across categories including buildings, transport, waste and behavioural change.

“We’ve ramped up how we’ll engage with partners and with residents through our Climate Connections project so that together we can ensure that Plymouth is environmentally friendly as it can possibly be,” he said.

The city council is responsible for one per cent of the city’s overall carbon emissions.

Achievements it claims so far include a programme of renewable energy projects on 12 buildings, the purchase of 61 electric vehicles for the council’s fleet, improving energy efficiency of 82 social homes and 499 privately owned and rented homes, and securing over £111 million for net-zero infrastructure and sustainable transport projects.