E-bike rental scheme used 8,000 times since launch

Bradford's new e-bike hire scheme has recorded around 8,000 cycle journeys in the three months since it launched.

The Beryl Bike scheme, sponsored by LNER, allows people to unlock bikes from docking stations around the city centre and district using an app.

The figures show the average journey length since it launched in March is just under 2 miles (3km), with journeys covering a total distance of 14,722 miles (23,692km).

Bradford Council contributed around £800,000 in funding from the Clean Air Zone to help set up the project.

Despite the number of journeys, the early days of the scheme were blighted by vandalism and people failing to return bikes to their docking stations.

Images of bikes left in bushes or laid out on pavements were common on social media, but the situation has since improved, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Beryl Bikes were highlighted by the council as one of the ways people can get on their bikes during Cycling UK's Bike Week campaign, which runs until Sunday.

Beryl is supporting the programme by giving cyclists a 15% discount on a 100-minute bundle.

A council spokesperson said: "Whether it's for better physical or mental health, saving money, reducing stress or just enjoying the outdoors, Bike Week is a chance to discover how cycling can make everyday life better."

An additional bay is now live at the University of Bradford (Richmond Building) providing more convenient access for students, staff and visitors.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North