As the number of people opting to ride a bike has surged in recent years due to greater environmental awareness and adhering to a desire to avoid the exorbitant annual costs of being a motorist, the number of councils seeing bikes as a potential revenue stream by renting them out has also increased.
Sydney’s Parramatta City Council has become the latest council to take part in the bike rental craze, joining the ranks of Brisbane City Council, Adelaide City Council and the City of Melbourne.
It marks the beginning of a new trend that’s expanding into Sydney’s western suburbs, especially as Parramatta has been tipped as the next big urban hub outside of the main CBD as infrastructure experts continually warn that Sydney’s existing roads and transport arteries will be unable to cope with ballooning population numbers.
But with Parramatta taking a proactive approach to mitigate these problems that are expected to crunch Sydney by 2035, traffic may ease down a little, and the City is eager to take advantage of the new Parramatta River Foreshore redevelopment that has been designed to make the area a thriving social and economic hub.
And now Parramatta City Council has joined up with Parramatta Park Trust to find an operator interested in establishing a bicycle hire business in the suburb.
According to the council, the cycle hire project is intended to increase opportunities for cycling, encourage visitors to explore places of interest around the local government area and maximise the safety and comfort of cycle users.
The City of Parramatta’s Lord Mayor Scott Lloyd said cycling is a great way to explore Parramatta and beyond.
“A lot of work has been done on the Parramatta Valley Cycleway over the years and the result is a wonderful network of cycle path extending from Westmead to the University of Western Sydney at Rydalmere,” Mr Lloyd said.
“We want to make it easier for locals and visitors to pick up a bike and go for a leisurely ride along the Parramatta River or through Parramatta Park, exploring new locations and appreciating all that Parramatta has to offer.”
The council has called for expressions of interest (EOI) to engage and operator for a four month trial to assess the viability of cycle hire, with the option to extend by up to two years.
According to the council, the cycle hire operator will have the choice to operate at one or both of the following locations, the Parramatta River foreshore, for example near Parramatta Ferry Wharf; or in and about Parramatta Park, for example near one of the restaurants or cafes.
Parramatta Park Trust director Suellen Fitzgerald said Parramatta Park is a world heritage-listed site and a great way to take in the wonderful scenery and history of the park is on a bicycle.
“I am pleased that the Trust is working with Parramatta Council through this EOI and I am confident that if a successful operator is found it will help increase tourist numbers in the local area.”
The EOI process for a cycle hire operator closes on 18 August.
