New electric bike hire scheme to launch in city

A new fleet of electric bikes will arrive on Exeter's streets after the Co Bikes network shut down in 2023.

The Sprint bikes scheme is due to launch with 10 pick‑up stations dotted around busy areas, with more locations expected to follow.

The idea comes from 23‑year‑old local businessman Thomas Lloyd Foster, who said the bikes would give people a simple alternative to short car journeys.

His company, Sprintco, plans to start a pilot scheme within weeks.

Lloyd Foster said: "What started as an idea after seeing a gap left when Co Bikes stopped operating has grown into a serious effort to build something sustainable, reliable and locally rooted.

"I genuinely believe Exeter needs a scheme that works in practice, not just in principle."

He said traffic across Exeter had continued to get worse, especially at rush hour, said the Local Democracy Reporting Services.

"Sprintco is designed to fill that gap with something affordable, accessible and easy to use," he said.

Riders will book bikes through an app and collect them from small solar‑powered racks that do not require any digging or wiring.

Lloyd Foster said Sprintco had already secured 10 station sites and was speaking to Devon County Council about wider expansion.

He added he was encouraging local businesses to host stations, saying it took little space and could help boost footfall.

Co Bikes shut in July 2023 after being hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, rising costs, fuel prices and vandalism.

Before closing, it had supported gig economy workers and offered more than 200 electric bikes across the city.

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