South East Dorset Dockless Bike Share Scheme EQIA

Aims of the strategy

Dorset Council wishes to partner with a Bike Share operator for South East (SE) Dorset to reduce traffic congestion and encourage a cheap, healthy and sustainable form of transport.

This follows the success of the Bike Share scheme operating in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) which has delivered over 200,000 journeys.

A dockless bikeshare scheme is proposed which will be app-based, enabling customers to easily access and unlock bicycles using a smartphone. The scheme will include around 110 pedal bicycles located at around 65 locations (drop zones) mainly in the Wimborne and Ferndown districts. Users pay a small fee to use the bikes.

Background to the proposal

The scheme overall offers low-cost transport to employment, skills development, education, and leisure opportunities to a wide range of users. There are also significant public health benefits of increasing cycling in the conurbation.

The scheme provides a dockless bike sharing scheme for Southeast Dorset to further maximise the benefit of the large-scale investment in cycle infrastructure being delivered through the Transforming Cities Fund.

BCP Council have been operating a successful and growing scheme of dockless hire bikes in partnership with Beryl Bike. It is this scheme that is being extended into SE Dorset.

Successful delivery would provide easily accessible cycles for anyone to use, with parking locations concentrated in key areas such as industrial estates, shopping and recreation areas.

The scheme could eventually include ebikes within the dockless offer (subject to funding availability) which would make a journey from the edge of the BCP area to large employment sites such as Ferndown Industrial Estate easily achievable.

Smartphone mapping apps show the location of bikes and unlock them. Lock is integral to the bike. Payment is via the app using a credit, debit card or prepaid RFID (radio frequency identification) card.

The bikes are designed to suit most adult riders. There is an ebike version. Both types are pictured below.

Picture of a single bike

Picture of several e-bikes

Key objectives of a Bike Share Scheme for South East Dorset are:

equality of access to bikeshare across the BCP and South East Dorset Council area (a service currently operates in BCP only).

increase levels of cycling in the conurbation
improve air quality
improve health and wellbeing for residents, including tackling adult obesity and sedentary lifestyles
reduce single occupancy car trips particularly for short journeys
improve accessibility for all residents
reduce car parking pressures
increase attractiveness of the area as a key tourist destination.
improve connectivity to key public transport interchanges, education, health care and employment sites
sharing of trip data to enable targeting of capital investment in supporting cycle infrastructure
support the development of a new business in the conurbation creating jobs
generate a financial contribution to the council to provide ongoing officer support, promotion of cycling, and adult cycle training, plus additional cycle parking and infrastructure as required.

Intelligence and communication

Data, information, evidence and research used and how it has influenced the decision-making process

Dorset Council area profile for South East Dorset.

Dorset Council Ward profiles for Ferndown North and South, Wimborne Minster, West Moors and Three Legged Cross, and Colehill and Wimborne Minster East.

Age group	Has access to the internet via mobile phone	Does not have access to the internet via mobile phone
16-24	98	2
25-34	96	4
35-44	97	3
45-54	95	5
55-64	77	23
65+	53	47

Of the UK's total population approximately, 97 percent had any day-to-day account, amounting to approximately 49.7 individuals. 49.1 million UK adults as of October 2017 had a current account.

As a general rule the wards where the bike share scheme is proposed are within 5% (+ or -) of the Dorset figures for a range of indicators including demographics, inequality, ethnicity, health, housing tenure and income with no protected characteristics being outside the norm.

Engagement or consultation that has taken place as part of this EqIA

The existing Bike Share scheme for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has been very well received and residents from areas in the South East Dorset conurbation have been requesting that a similar service is provided within their area. Officers have engaged with portfolio holders for Transportation and the Environment, Heads of Service, plus relevant services (e.g. Transportation, Tourism and Parks) all of whom are keen to see an expansion of the scheme.

The advice from Financial Services (Procurement) and Legal & Democratic Services has provided a clear steer that a “Concession Contract” would be the best method of securing a preferred operator for South East Dorset using an open and transparent process

Assessment

Impacts of the strategy

Impacts on who or what?	Effect	Details
Age	Neutral	The scheme overall will offer low cost transport to employment, skills development, education and leisure opportunities to a wide range of users. There are also significant public health benefits of increasing cycling in the conurbation. Bikes are designed to comfortably fit riders of different heights e.g. bikes are a “step through” design and are suitable from 4'11" to 6'5". They also have gears to support riders with varying fitness and strength. A minimum age for a registered user of the Bike Share scheme will be 16. This is for safety and insurance purposes. This will be explained both in the user terms and conditions and on the bicycle. Older people may be less able to use the Bike Share scheme due to physical restriction and potentially lack of a mobile phone to access the app.
Disability: (including physical, mental, sensory and progressive conditions)	Positive	The scheme overall will offer low cost transport to employment, skills development, education and leisure opportunities to a wide range of users. There are also significant public health benefits of increasing cycling in the conurbation. Some people with limited mobility through a disability may find that they are able to travel further on a cycle than on foot. Increased cycling has a positive benefit on air quality decrease the incidence of diseases/ respiratory health conditions. Bikes potentially causing an obstruction to pedestrians, and wheelchair/mobility scooter users. Access to bikes for residents/visitors with disabilities, some people with a physical disability may not be able to use the cycles provided
Gender Reassignment & Gender Identity:	Neutral	The scheme overall will offer low cost transport to employment, skills development, education and leisure opportunities to a wide range of users. There are also significant public health benefits of increasing cycling in the conurbation
Pregnancy and maternity:	Neutral	The scheme overall will offer low cost transport to employment, skills development, education and leisure opportunities to a wide range of users. There are also significant public health benefits of increasing cycling in the conurbation. The bikes are not fitted with child seats so cannot be used by parents wishing to transport young children. NHS’ general advice recommends that “Exercises that have a risk of falling, such as horse riding, downhill skiing, ice hockey, gymnastics and cycling, should only be done with caution. Falls carry a risk of damage to your baby”.
Race and Ethnicity:	Neutral	The scheme overall will offer low cost transport to employment, skills development, education and leisure opportunities to a wide range of users. There are also significant public health benefits of increasing cycling in the conurbation. There is evidence in the UK that there is less cycling in Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. The availability of a fleet of bikes available for instant hire will encourage all residents to try cycling without the need to purchase a bike. This, when coupled with targeted promotion will ensure the Bike Share scheme benefits all residents.
Religion or belief: Sexual orientation Marriage or civil partnership: Carers: Rural isolation: Single parent families Armed Forces communities	Neutral	The scheme overall will offer low cost transport to employment, skills development, education and leisure opportunities to a wide range of users. There are also significant public health benefits of increasing cycling in the conurbation
Sex (consider both men and women	Neutral	The scheme overall will offer low cost transport to employment, skills development, education, and leisure opportunities to a wide range of users. There are also significant public health benefits of increasing cycling in the conurbation. Cycling UK’s research shows that men undertake 3 times as many cycling journeys as women and travel nearly 4 times as far. Women will be encouraged to use the Bike Share scheme with the bikes themselves of “step through” design suitable for a wide range of riders from 4’11” to 6’5” with adjustable seat. In addition, the scheme will allow those that do not own a bike to try them out and gain confidence. Users will also be directed to the adult cycle training that are available
Social & economic deprivation:	Positive	The scheme overall will offer low cost transport to employment, skills development, education, and leisure opportunities to a wide range of users. There are also significant public health benefits of increasing cycling in the conurbation. Positive impact for people on low incomes or no income, unemployed, carers, part-time, seasonal workers and shift workers as scheme will provide low cost access to transport Neutral impact on people who do not have a bank account or smart phone/internet access who have no personal access the bikes

Key to effects or impacts

Positive - the proposal eliminates discrimination, advances equality of opportunity and/or fosters good relations with protected groups.

Negative - protected characteristic group(s) could be disadvantaged or discriminated against

Neutral - no change/ no assessed significant impact of protected characteristic groups

Negative - protected characteristic group(s) could be disadvantaged or discriminated against

Action plan

Issue	Action to be taken	Person(s) responsible	Date to be completed
A minimum age for a registered user of the Bike Share scheme will be 16. This will be explained both in the user terms and conditions and on the bicycle.	Investigate option for a registered user over 16 to hire a bike for a friend/relative that is aged 12-15. Will be dependent on insurance implications.	Christopher Whitehouse	12 months from start of contract
The elderly may be less able to use the Bike Share scheme due to physical restriction.	Advertise Leisure Rides/adult cycle training which gives confidence to those considering a return to cycling.	Christopher Whitehouse	12 months from start of contract
Lack of a mobile phone to access the App for elderly / low income.	Smartphone ownership increasing and becoming more affordable each year. Investigate with operator potential access to bikes via contactless card.	Christopher Whitehouse	12 months from start of contract
Bikes potentially causing an obstruction to pedestrians, and wheelchair / mobility scooter users	A network of marked “preferred parking bays” will be provided, with an assessment made to ensure pavement width/access is not compromised for all users. These bays will be geo-fenced and a financial incentive will be used to encourage parking in bays. In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole a similar system has enabled over 80% of all journeys to end in a marked bay. Key Performance Indicators (KPI)will also determine that any bikes causing a danger or obstruction must be removed by the operator within two hours. A bike reported as causing a nuisance must be removed within 24 hours.	Bays to be assessed and clearly marked for scheme launch. Additional bays to be added as required. Performance of scheme (including response times to KPIs) to be reviewed at fortnightly project meetings	n/a

Name: Christopher Whitehouse

Job Title: Transport Planning Project Officer

Email address: christopher.whitehouse@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Who has agreed this EqIA

Equality & Diversity Action Group Chair - Bridget Downton

Date: 29 September 2021

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