Cardiff cancels bike hire scheme after 'staggering' spate of vandalism

A bike hire scheme which was given £800,000 in taxpayers cash by the Welsh Government has been scrapped for an entire city.

It comes after a 'staggering' spate of vandalism led to more than 3,000 cycles being stolen or damaged.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was recently accused of 'losing control' of the capital city's electric vehicle situation, with discarded rental e-bikes and scooters a common sight.  

It was reported in MailOnline that the bikes, which had terrifyingly been hacked by yobs in the past, were operated by companies who are not directly regulated by the city.

This means they have increased rapidly in numbers across London. 

READ MORE: E-bike scourge of London: Pressure grows on Sadiq Khan to ban the two-wheeled gadgets that are hijacked by yobs and litter pavements and streets

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The Nextbike project is an active travel scheme launched in 2018, ahead of Wales' blanket 20mph speed limits for drivers.

But it was initially paused in 2021 as chiefs tried to work out how to up security measures to stop the bike thefts from happening.

Now, two years later, Cardiff's Labour council has been forced to admit defeat and the bikes are being binned for good.

Councillor Daniel De'Ath, cabinet member for transport, said: 'Cardiff and Vale cycle-hire scheme has, despite its challenges, been an immensely popular scheme with a significant number of users.

'I want them to know that it is our intention to see a new cycle hire scheme return to the city as soon as possible.

'We now need to find a way, using the latest technology, which will make it harder for people intent on vandalising or stealing bikes to get away with their actions.'

When the scheme was initially paused in 2021 the company - which runs similar schemes in other UK cities - said the level of vandalism in the Welsh capital was 'simply staggering' and 'not something we've experienced to the same extent anywhere else in the UK.' 

The company added that engineers just couldn't 'keep up' with the damage and thefts.

Jess Strangward, of Nextbike, said: 'It is sad that we have had to take the decision to close the Cardiff service as I know it was well used and liked by residents.

'Unfortunately, the rate of vandalism this year meant it was unfeasible for us to continue and offer a good service.'

Last week, the father of a toddler who lost his finger after getting it caught in the chain of a rental electric bike, called on Sadiq Khan to do more to regulate the bicycles in London.

The 33-year-old urged the Mayor of London to act on regulating the firms behind the bikes so their vehicles pose less of a danger to young children and the public.

His calls were echoed by Sarah Gayton of the National Federation of the Blind of the UK who said the current regulations - which allow e-bike users to deposit their vehicles at random - are not inclusive to all pavement users.