TWO new 24-hour bike hire stations could be open in Bathurst by the spring if the plan wins the support of Bathurst Regional Council on Wednesday night.
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Boomerang Bikes is seeking to partner with council to establish the bike hire stations, with the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre and Bathurst Aquatic Centre the preferred locations.
Councillors discussed the proposal at their June meeting before calling for a new report to address a number of concerns including the impact of Bathurst’s climate, the need for helmets and potential costs to council.
A report by corporate services and finance director Bob Roach said it would cost $4000 to set up the stations and around $2400 a month for 12 or 24 months once the stations were in operation.
“For the scheme to be viable for Boomerang Bikes a minimum monthly income from bike hire is required,” Mr Roach said.
“Council would subsidise this income which would cover periods of low hire rates. Council and Boomerang Bikes would also share any hire income on a 50/50 basis.
“An initial agreement of 12 months with a 12-month option is suggested at the end of which time Boomerang Bikes is solely liable for the hire operations, should they see fit to continue with the hire operation.”
Mr Roach said a range of helmet sizes would be kept at the aquatic centre and information centre for use by people who hire the bikes, but that service would only be available during the regular opening hours for those facilities.
Users who hired bikes outside of those hours would be requried to provide their own helmet to comply with NSW road rules, and hair nets and/or sanitiser would used to ensure the hygiene of the helmets.
Mr Roach acknowledged that Bathurst’s freezing, foggy winters would likely mean a drop-off in bike hires, but said overall use would be monitored during the 12 or 24-month trial period.
“Boomerang Bikes will provide monthly reports to council whereby hire trends can be established and provide vital data detailing take up rates,” he said.
“This information will assist in determining the long term future of the scheme.”
Mr Roach said the bike hire stations, developed by Spinway, were an automated “vending machine” style unit which provided bike hire through credit card transactions.
The stations could be either hard wired or fitted with a solar panel for operations.
He said the bikes were fitted with radio-frequency identification to allow them to be easily tracked.
If councillors back the proposal, Boomerang Bikes says it could the hire stations installed and ready for use by September 1.
