There have been a number of reports of the electric bikes being left unattended in fields, green lanes and at the sides of busy roads.
EVie Bike director Gavin Breeze has urged users to be ‘helpful’ for future riders by placing the bikes back in one of the company’s designated racks, which can be found across the Island.
‘We cannot stop riders from leaving bikes where they wish, but hope people would be sensible enough to make it convenient for the following person to locate and use,’ he said.
EVie Bike currently charges £2 extra to allow people to end their ride at a location of their choosing rather than at a designated cycle rack. Mr Breeze explained that the policy acted as a ‘gentle nudge’ to behave and added that while the company did not wish to increase the penalty,
they might have to if the ‘situation worsens’.
The company has introduced a yellow-zone system which means users cannot end their ride within that zone unless the bike is returned to a rack. Ending a ride in a yellow zone and not returning the bike to a rack attracts a rehoming fee.
The policy has been designed to avoid bikes being scattered around the Island. There is currently one functioning yellow zone in St Helier, but Mr Breeze said the company had plans to introduce them at Corbière and Plémont, which have been identified as ‘dumping hotspots’.
The company currently have 140 bikes and 3,800 users who have downloaded their app.
Despite the increasing demand and popularity of the bikes, Mr Breeze said EVie had no plans to offer helmets to users as it was not ‘logistically possible’.
He added: ‘As a bike user myself, I recommend anyone hiring our bikes wears a helmet. Due to the volume of bikes and users scattered throughout the Island’s parishes, it would be impossible to supply everyone with one.’
Current legislation states that people under the age of 13 must wear a helmet while cycling, but for anyone who is older, the law’s safety advice is only a recommendation.
Mr Breeze explained that their terms and conditions featured prominent advice on wearing a helmet. He said the company had discussed future plans to join an affinity marketing scheme to offer users the chance to buy or hire a helmet.
‘When hiring a bike off the app users would be redirected to a helmet-hire site or local cycling shop to encourage them to purchase one,’ he said.
