OVO bikes back after a two-month suspension

An electric bike here scheme has returned to Penarth with expansion plans afoot.

OVO bikes were re-launched in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan on Thursday (January 13) after a spate of vandalism and thefts depleted the fleet beyond function, forcing its temporary suspension.

It was the first time Nextbike, which saw 300 of the bikes stolen in Cardiff, has had to suspend an operation because of theft and vandalism, and some changes have been made to OVO bikes and the OVO bike station network to tackle cycle crime.

A smaller fleet of 400 bikes has a new layer of security and will initially be focused on the highest-use stations, with four stations in Cardiff now permanently closed.

Nextbike will bolster the fleet to nearly 900 bikes by March, meanwhile new electric bike stations will be installed in Penarth, Dinas Powys and Sully.

Cllr Peter King, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood services and Transport, said: "I'm thrilled to see OVObikes returning to the Vale of Glamorgan as the scheme proved extremely popular before it was suspended.

"In addition to the six existing all electric bike hire stations in the Vale, I am pleased to announce a further four electric bike stations will be installed by the end of March, in Penarth, Sully and Dinas Powys.

"In keeping with the climate emergency we declared in 2019, it is vital that we continue to support active and sustainable methods of transport. The bikes are simple to use and their modest tariffs compare favourably with the cost of travelling by car, bus or train.

"Using them can improve the health and wellbeing of commuters and residents and they have also proven attractive to tourists."