Representatives of Great Western Railway (GWR) and South Wessex Community Rail Partnership recently visited Frome to view its bike hire facility at the railway station. The hire scheme was made possible by funding from the GWR Customer & Community Improvement Fund, with a new shed housing the bikes installed by Frome Town Council (FTC) and signage from Frome Community Bike Project, who are also managing the hire scheme.
Helen Scholes, Marketing Manager at GWR, Chantelle Bacon, Community Rail Manager, and Jon Morgan, Chair of the South Wessex Community Rail Partnership, met FTC councillor Steve Tanner and Emma Parker from Frome Community Bike Project to view the new facilities and see the new bike shed in action. The facility offers five standard bikes and one electric cargo bike, all available to hire by the hour via an app on your phone: providing a flexible, low-carbon way to travel around Frome and its surrounding areas.
Emma Parker said “This is Frome’s first on-street hire bike scheme, meaning the bikes are available 24 hours a day and can be hired and unlocked from your phone. The cargo bike can carry luggage and/or people up to 100kg and must be collected and returned to the shed at Frome Railway Station. The standard bikes can be hired from Frome station or Frome library, making them a great option for traveling between the town centre and the train station.”
The grant for the bike hire scheme also covers the cost of a suite of new town maps, due to be installed across the town soon. These maps are designed to highlight walking and cycling routes, local attractions and key amenities, further enhancing the experience for those arriving by rail.
Book the suite of bikes and the cargo bike via apps, advertised at the bike shed.
