Exploring the future of bike and scooter hire in Tameside

Tameside is exploring the opportunity of bringing bike and scooter hire to the borough. Councillors and officers from Tameside Council and Transport for Greater Manchester came together on Friday 26 September at Tameside Cycle Circuit for the first ever Tameside Micromobility Summit, which explored how micromobility could work locally and what steps are needed to make it happen.

The event was organised by Tameside Council with support from Active Tameside, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), and Beryl, the company that operates Greater Manchester’s Starling Bank Bike Hire scheme. Attendees had the chance to learn about micromobility and test the equipment in person.

Micromobility refers to lightweight vehicles, often electric, that can be borrowed through self-service schemes. These options are already transforming travel in parts of Greater Manchester, with over 1.23 million rides logged since the Starling Bank Bike Hire scheme launched in 2024.

The summit included a workshop session explaining how the scheme works in Manchester, Trafford and Salford, followed by a demonstration on the cycle circuit using hire bikes and e-scooters.

With future funding available through the Transport for City Regions Fund and new opportunities from the Department for Transport to trial e-scooters, Tameside is well placed to expand Greater Manchester’s micromobility network beyond the M60.

Councillor Stephen Homer, Tameside Council Executive Member for Towns, Transport and Connectivity, said: “Micromobility is about making everyday journeys easier, cheaper and greener. This summit was a chance to see what is already working in other boroughs and to start shaping a scheme that works for Tameside. We want to make sure our residents have access to the same sustainable travel options as the rest of Greater Manchester.”

Residents and businesses who wish to share their views on micromobility can email planpolicy@tameside.gov.uk.