THE bicycle and e-scooter provider Beryl saw rides rise by 176 per cent in the first six months of this year compared with 2020.

It has calculated that its hire schemes in the BCP Council area have saved 339.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent so far this year.

The company has joined Passenger, the Westbourne-based creator of public transport apps and websites, to urge people to opt for alternatives to car journeys and is offering 10 minutes of free riding for Cycle to Work Day today, Thursday, August 5.

Beryl chief executive Philip Ellis said: "Beryl's purpose is to provide people with an eco-friendly and alternative way to travel through our bike, e-bike and e-scooter hire schemes.

“We've worked alongside our partners at Passenger since 2019 to help empower and enable more people to travel sustainably. To celebrate Cycle to Work Day this year, we're offering riders in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 10 minutes of free riding on our pedal bikes, with 15 per cent off all Beryl Minute Bundles also being offered from August 2-6."

Beryl and Passenger have been working to raise awareness of “micro-mobility” options – the use of lightweight vehicles such as bikes and scooters.

Since forging the partnership with Passenger in December 2019, Beryl has seen rides exceed 415,000.

Dolly Gulliford, head of operations at Passenger, said: “It’s encouraging to see a boost in bike and e-scooter uptake in Dorset as the transport industry works hard to make public transport more accessible.

“Our technology allows people to easily locate micro-mobility options, so public transport becomes even more of an efficient way to get from A to B – whether it’s for a daily commute, or for the ‘first and last leg’ of a journey between bus stops.

“At Passenger, we’re committed to inspiring a more sustainable way of living both through our technology, and in practice as a business. For example, as our staff continue to work remotely, we’re supporting Cycle To Work Day on August 5 with a twist by holding a Cycle To Lunch event, where everyone will be travelling by bike to meet in Bournemouth Gardens for a team lunch.”

Beryl bike and e-scooter hire points can be viewed on the Morebus, Yellow Buses and Unibus apps and websites.