Boris-style ‘pay as you go’ E-bikes have been launched in Pembrokeshire towns such as Tenby this month, but the initiative has already been hit with scepticism by members of the public, as well as councillors.
The Pembrokeshire County Council trial scheme will see a fleet of E-bikes provided for members of the public to use for commuting, leisure and local activities; with users will simply able to collect and leave the bikes at a handy series of pick-up and drop-off sites around the towns of Tenby, Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Goodwick.
However, members of the public have had their say already on potential issues that the scheme might bring with it, with some labelling such E-bikes as ‘death traps’.
“This is a very bad idea, imagine all the compensation claims when all the accidents start! Look at the state of the roads, potholes everywhere!” posted one person on social media. Another stated: “God help us pedestrians, ordinary bikes are bad enough, but you don't hear these things coming at speed, when you have limited mobility and are slow you can't get out the way quick enough.”
Others have expressed concerns on the E-bikes being ‘dumped’ on the seaside town’s beaches...and even in the harbour sluice, echoing concerns first raised by Tenby Town Council’s Deputy Mayor Cllr Charles Dale when the idea was first touted to councillors last year.
Cllr Dale told his colleagues that, in principle it was a ‘great idea’ - however, he hoped that it worked out better than in Cardiff, where all the capital city’s bikes appeared to be seemingly stolen or vandalised, leading to the scheme ending.
Ideas for potential locations for the E-bike bays to be cited in Tenby have been seemingly ignored too by PCC’s officers, with none of the suggested locations taken up, according to Tenby Town Council’s clerk Andrew Davies.
“Back in December, when PCC informed us of the pilot they gave us a raft of suggested locations; and we met with Will Davies to get a bit more detail and suggested possible sites,” he said.
“Other than the invite to the launch - that was the last we heard about the scheme.
“None of the suggested Town Council locations have been taken up,” remarked Mr Davies.
Locations the E-bikes are available from, include - North Beach car park; The Glebe; Heywood Lane; Tenby Leisure Centre; Salterns car park; Tenby multi-storey; South Beach car park; and Tenby Railway Station.
One such ‘E-bike bay’ has popped up alongside Tenby’s historic town walls, the importance of which have been highlighted by town councillors in recent years.
Tenby’s County Councillor for the South ward, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall is none too pleased with the location either, stating: “I do not like the look of the bikes in front of the Town Walls.
“I do have concerns about the scheme in general. I know that they work very well in some places but I am not sure about in Tenby.
“I am especially concerned about them within the Town Walls during pedestrianisation and other busy periods.”
