A PRIVATE bike hire scheme operating from two Bathurst Regional Council premises has failed to capture the public’s imagination and looks set to be wound up for good.
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The Boomerang Bike Hire scheme has been running at a significant loss for almost two years, prompting a recommendation from council’s corporate services and finance director Aaron Jones to wind up the operation.
Councillors last year granted the scheme a 12-month extension despite it costing council almost $20,000 in the first nine months, but usage numbers have remained flat since then.
A report by to council by Mr Jones reveals just 39 bikes were hired from the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre between September 2017 and April 2018 – an average of just five a month.
Figures at the Bathurst Aquatic Centre were only slightly better, with 75 bikes hired over the eight-month period, bringing in $988.
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Mr Jones said council had committed to investing more than $28,000 across the two sites, receiving just $2000 a year in return.
The low figures followed a concerted advertising and social media campaign by council in a bid to increase bike usage.
“Council had resolved to subsidise the cost for this facility at $1200 per site per month, with council retaining 50 per cent of the income generated from each site for the period of the initial 12-month contract and 12-month extension,” Mr Jones states in the report.
“Given there has only been minimal increase in the usage and income generated from the facility, following a targeted promotional campaign, it is recommended that council does not renew the contract with Boomerang Bikes from the end of contract in September 2018.”
Council entered into a partnership with Boomerang Bikes in 2016 after approaching a number of bike hire companies about bringing the scheme to town, looking to capitalise on the success of the velodrome and BMX circuit.
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The Bathurst Visitor Information Centre and Bathurst Aquatic Centre were chosen as locations for the scheme as both venues were council-owned and had the benefit of providing security for the bikes and associated equipment, along with easy access to the city’s cycleways network.
In the first nine months of operation (from September 2017), just 109 bikes were hired across the two sites for a total revenue of $1601. Council’s share was $800.50 – a loss of around $20,000.
Despite the shortfall, though, councillors voted last year to take keep the scheme in place for another year, saying a lack of promotion meant the scheme was not reaching its full potential.
Since then a number of initiatives have been put in place to increase awareness and usage of the scheme, including a cash receipt system for visitors who did not want to use a credit card; a Boomerang Bikes brochure and council cycling map; and regular promotion of the scheme through Facebook and Twitter.
Councillors will vote on the future of council’s partnership with Boomerang Bikes at Wednesday’s monthly meeting.