BERYL Bike users have been urged to take “sensible precautions” when using the bikes during the coronavirus pandemic.

Riders who use the bike sharing scheme, which operates in Bournemouth and Poole, have been asked to follow advice and be considerate of other users when using the bikes.

Key workers are currently able to use Beryl Bikes for free to carry out their roles.

Bournemouth and Poole residents can contact Beryl at support@beryl.cc with details of their role and requirements.

What have Beryl Bikes said about coronavirus?

Posting on their website, Beryl Bikes said: “As more and more people attempt to avoid crowded trains, buses and tubes, we’re seeing our bikes being used more frequently. For those who are considered key workers by the government, bikes are an important part of the public transport system that lets them travel to and from work. That's why we're doing everything we can to keep bikes available for public use and maintain service.

“However, we know there are concerns about the possibility of the bikes spreading the virus as they are used by various people throughout the day so we want to be clear about what we're doing to protect you, and what we need riders to do to make sure we can keep bikes available for those who rely on them.”

What are the operators doing during the coronavirus crisis?

Beryl Bikes said: “The vast majority of the Beryl team are working from home, with only key operation staff still travelling locally to our sites. The local Beryl teams are equipped with antibacterial spray to disinfect the bikes whenever they come into contact with them: in the workshop, when loading and unloading from a van, and when the bikes are repositioned from bay to bay.

“Thanks to generous support from Bournemouth-based company Muc-Off, we're equipped with plenty of high-quality antibacterial supplies and will continue to use these to disinfect areas of the bike with lots of contact. Beryl operational staff are instructed to wash hands regularly and use gloves at all times when interacting with public bikes.

However, they said that due to the way the bikes move around operating it was not “operationally possible” for them to disinfect the bikes between each ride and also keep the service running for everyone who needs it.

Beryl Bikes added: "And it wouldn't be fair for us to say that we do.”

As a result, riders are being asked to follow particular guidelines and be respectful of anyone who may use the bike after them.

What do riders need to do?

Riders have been asked to do the following:

  • Wash their hands before and after riding a Beryl Bike. If you can’t wash your hands immediately before riding, use an alcohol based sanitiser
  • Wear gloves to ride. Riders are also asked to wash their gloves after use, or dispose of them safely after riding if they have single use ones
  • Avoid touching their face when they haven't washed their hands or are wearing gloves that may have picked up the virus
  • Consider other users and follow sensible precautions as advised by the NHS and the government
  • Anyone self-isolating because they are unwell with coronavirus symptoms or has someone ill in their household, has been asked not to use the Beryl Bikes.
  • If a person becomes unwell with suspected symptoms of coronavirus while riding a Beryl Bike they should stop riding them and visit https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 for guidance on what to do next.

Anything else?

For further advice visit https://help-bikes.beryl.cc/en/articles/3798022-advice-on-covid-19-for-using-beryl-bikes or contact the Beryl Bikes customer service team by email in-app chat.