A BIKE hire bay in Worcester has yet to be replaced over four months after being vandalised.
Worcester City Councillor Sarah Murray expressed frustration at the continued delay in replacing the Beryl bike bay in her St Nicholas ward, which was installed on June 17 this year and was vandalised two days later on June 19.
After the first bay was taken away following the incident of vandalism, residents have been left without a designated space for Beryl Bikes, affecting accessibility to sustainable travel options in the area.
And despite the suspension of the original bike bay, the pavement markings for the bay remain, causing confusion among residents who mistakenly believe it is still active.
As a result, several residents have been penalised for parking bikes in the bay under the impression it was still available for use.
Coun Murray has been tirelessly working on behalf of the St Nicholas community to have this issue resolved.
She has called on city officials to expedite the installation of a new, fully operational bay, emphasising the need for prompt action to support the community’s commitment to sustainable transport options.
She said: “It’s unacceptable that St Nicholas residents are left without a dedicated bike bay due to an incident of vandalism, I’ve been working to get this addressed, and the lack of response from the council is deeply disappointing. Not only are residents
missing out on a vital community resource, but they’re also being unfairly penalised because of unclear markings that should have been removed. This needs immediate attention.”
The City Council confirmed it was Beryl Bikes who were responsible for replacing the bike bay.
A spokesperson for Beryl said: “We are working with our local authority partners – Worcester City Council – to deliver two new bays in the St Nicholas area and ensure the scheme remains accessible to as many people as possible.
“A spate of vandalism meant we had to take immediate action and suspend the bay while we investigate ways to help prevent any possible further damage. The bay is clearly marked in the app as not in use while riders were also informed via in-app message.”
