Secure cycle storage, E-bike charging stations, and Brompton Hire scheme in Midlothian

Overview

What: Midlothian Council's active travel team are assessing the need for secure cycle parking, ebike charging stations, and expanding the Brompton Hire scheme.

Why: We understand that a lack of safe and secure storage facilities can be a deterrent for cycling to the shops, to visit friends/family, and to access public transport links, or that people simply need somewhere secure to store their cycle at home. The rise in popularity of ebikes also opens up opportunities for more people to get out cycling so we would also like to hear your  views on ebike charging stations.

The Brompton bicycle hire scheme launched at Sheriffhall Park and Ride in October 2024 has seen a steady increase in usage and we are now looking at expanding the scheme to another location within Midlothian. The Brompton hire scheme allows members of the public to rent a Brompton folding bicycle for £5 per day and provides the freedom to drop it off at any of the existing 70+ Brompton Hire lockers in the UK (currently there is one in Musselburgh, one in Prestonpans, and two in Glasgow).

Where: We are looking for responses from Midlothian residents and visitors on such infrastructure to determine the best locations within the local authority to install these.

When: If there is demand for this type of infrastructure, we are hoping to have this installed in the near future.

How: This project has been made possible thanks to a People and Place grant. People and Place grants are funded by the Scottish Government and are administered and supported by SEStran.

SEStran (South East of Scotland Transport Partnership) is the statutory Regional Transport Partnership for the south-east of Scotland. SEStran encompasses eight local authorities: City of Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, Falkirk, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian.

People and Place grants are funded by the Scottish Government and administered and supported by SEStran. SEStran’s People and Place programme contributes towards three of the four objectives in the Regional Transport Strategy, by supporting behaviour change interventions that allow people to choose active or sustainable ways to travel instead of using a car.