Velez-Malaga plans to bring back bike-hire service

Velez-Malaga Town Hall plans to put the management of the bike-hire service out for public tender. The local council has said it wants locals and visitors to be able to enjoy the service again as soon as possible.

The free service began in April after the bikes had been locked away for six months because there was no system in place to prevent robberies.

Ninety-eight bikes were damaged through use and vandalism, and only two remained available, although there are 3,000 people registered to use them.

The Youth Council paid €1,500 per month to a company for the upkeep of the bikes, but this does not include replacing parts. As there is no budget to repair them, they remain at the Local Police station. Once it is up and running again, the plan is to extend the service further, and it will no longer be free, in hopes that this will encourage people to take more care of the bikes.

Photo credit: Ruth Espallargas