
Oldbury and West Bromwich are the latest towns to be added to the growing West Midlands Cycle Hire (WMCH) network following the launch in Sandwell today. The cycle hire scheme has been developed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in partnership with local councils. The scheme is run by Serco, using bikes, docks and locks manufactured in the West Midlands. Part of the locking mechanism is made by West Bromwich engineering firm PHA Europe. More than 60 of the distinctive grey and green bikes are now available across ten docking stations at popular destinations around the area including Sandwell Hospital, Dartmouth Park, Sandwell College and Sandwell and Dudley Railway Station. This follows successful launches earlier this year across the West Midlands which have seen tens of thousands of riders clock up more than 150,000 km on the bikes. Now the people of Sandwell will be able to try the bikes for fun or for their daily commute simply by downloading the West Midlands Cycle Hire app and following the instructions to find and unlock their nearest bike. First time riders can enjoy their first 30 minutes free of charge. Read the full story here