Brighton & Hove’s bike share scheme, BTN BikeShare, will be bringing a splash of colour to the city over the next five weeks as it launches a new Christmas competition.
One of the scheme’s 600 bikes has been given a candy cane style makeover and painted with red and white stripes. Users of the bike who take a picture of themselves with the bike and share it on social media will be in with a chance of winning one of 14 fantastic prizes, just in time for Christmas.
All of the prizes have been donated by local businesses and include:
• £50 voucher for participating stores in the Churchill Square shopping centre
• £50 voucher for Murmur Restaurant
• £10 voucher for the Giggling Squid restaurant
• Gift wrapped Vegan soaps from Oh So Swedish
• Build your own beach hut with Paxton + Glew
• £125 sunglasses voucher from Cubitts
• Gift voucher for 4 players at GLOBALLS
• £50 gift voucher for Brighton Body Casting
• Voucher for 4 people at the Upside Down House
• £20 voucher at Sarah & Topsy
• 2 x £20 vouchers at Fatto a Mano Pizzeria
• 4 entry tickets plus a trip on the Glass Bottomed Boat at the Sealife Centre
• Brighton Gin Gift Set
More details of the competition, the prizes available and terms and conditions can be found on the BTN BikeShare website.
Paul Topham from BikeShare operator Hourbike said: “I’m so excited for this competition which aims to encouraging cycling all year round, support local business and lift people’s spirits. The candy cane bike looks great and I can’t wait to see the competition entries come in.
“2020 has been a difficult year for everyone but I’m pleased BikeShare has been able to play its part in supporting safe and active travel across the city and offering free memberships to hundreds of NHS staff and key workers.
“I’d also like to thank those local businesses for donating so many great prizes. We know what a tough time they’re having and for them to support the scheme in this way is fantastic.”
Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee Amy Heley said: “This is a great way to bring some Christmas spirit to the city in what’s been a difficult year for us all.
“I’m looking forward to trying to spot the Candy Cane bike when I’m out and about.
“BikeShare continues to be a successful scheme and one of the most popular in the country. We’ve seen during the pandemic that more residents and visitors are using BikeShare bikes to travel around the city.
“Sustainable, active travel is so important for both physical and mental health and for helping us to reduce our carbon emissions and improve air quality.”
It’s been a big year for BikeShare. In June it celebrated its one millionth journey to go along with the two million miles travelled on BikeShare bikes since the scheme was launched in 2017.
In April, BikeShare was also able to offer free memberships for hundreds of NHS and other key workers in the city.
Bikes are also getting a new look thanks to local schoolchildren who were asked to design some skirt guards which reflected the physical or mental health, environmental, transport or social benefits.
BikeShare usage also increased as we exited the first national lockdown and has seen consistent usage while we have adjusted to a new way of moving around Brighton & Hove.
Opposition spokesperson Gary Wilkinson said: “The candy cane bike design is bright and colourful and a nice way to celebrate the success of BikeShare and offer our residents and visitors the chance to win some locally sourced prizes.
“Cycling remains a great way of getting around the city and we’re lucky to have such a successful scheme supporting sustainable and active travel.”
