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18/01/2017
Alliance Opposes Plans To Cut Belfast Bike Scheme
The Alliance Party has opposed cuts to the Belfast Bike scheme.
Plans have been put forward to change the current arrangements of the first 30 minutes being free reduced to 15 minutes.
However, Group Leader Michael Long said it would only result in an annual saving of £15,000 when implemented with other new measures.
He said: "Alliance has been hugely supportive of it and we would like to see it expanded into suburban areas as well as the current more central locations. We were therefore disappointed when Councillors from all the other parties on the Committee supported calls to reduce the free usage period from 30 minutes to 15 minutes.
"We believe this will result in reduced usage of the bikes and so jeopardise the success of the scheme. The free usage periods in other cities in these islands is usually 30 minutes in length and we don't see why we should be different. The reason given by others is it will save money but £15,000 is hardly a large amount in relation to a budget of £150 million especially when there are obvious health and environmental benefits.
"We will be opposing the proposal in the next few weeks leading up to the rates being set and would encourage those in other parties to think again."
(CD/MH)
Plans have been put forward to change the current arrangements of the first 30 minutes being free reduced to 15 minutes.
However, Group Leader Michael Long said it would only result in an annual saving of £15,000 when implemented with other new measures.
He said: "Alliance has been hugely supportive of it and we would like to see it expanded into suburban areas as well as the current more central locations. We were therefore disappointed when Councillors from all the other parties on the Committee supported calls to reduce the free usage period from 30 minutes to 15 minutes.
"We believe this will result in reduced usage of the bikes and so jeopardise the success of the scheme. The free usage periods in other cities in these islands is usually 30 minutes in length and we don't see why we should be different. The reason given by others is it will save money but £15,000 is hardly a large amount in relation to a budget of £150 million especially when there are obvious health and environmental benefits.
"We will be opposing the proposal in the next few weeks leading up to the rates being set and would encourage those in other parties to think again."
(CD/MH)
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