Despite being in the city for less than a week, Aberdeen’s new ebikes are already making the headlines due to repeated vandalism.
Last week, 200 of the bicycles arrived at 40 locations after the project was created through a partnership between Big Issue and Norwegian bike hire company ShareBike, with Aberdeen City Council also being involved.
However, a number of incidents have occurred since the public were able to rent the bikes on Wednesday last week.
This includes two “gangs” destroying them in Torry and four being found vandalised at Duthie Park.
Press & Journal readers have also reported incidents in Bridge of Don and at Seaton Park.
Chief executive of BigIssue eBikes, Jan Endresen, said that they “will work with the police to find the culprits and will report anyone caught destroying the bikes to the police”.
Since the cases have been publicised, Press & Journal readers expressed their anger at the damage and here’s what some had to say.
‘There’s always one that will ruin it for others’
Caroline Lewis described the individuals causing the damage as “small minded”, adding: “Sadly we could all see it coming as there’s always one that will ruin it for others.”
The country’s mentality was blamed for the mindless acts by Richard Colvin, who said: “Seems a lot of mindless vandalism is a constant UK/Scottish problem. This wouldn’t happen in Denmark.”
A number of comments came to the conclusion that this type of vandalism will prevent Aberdeen from getting more things in the future, with Portia Simpson stating: “This is why we can’t have nice things.”
Echoing Mrs Simpson’s comments, Yve added: “Why do some people feel the need to do things like this? What’s the point in it? We can’t have anything nice in the city without it getting vandalised.
“Same as the flower displays in the summer; most of them get ripped out and thrown everywhere. It’s needless and horrible. There’s no repercussion for those responsible and I think that’s a big part of the problem.”
‘Hope it remains great service despite idiots’
Concerns were raised about vandalism when the Aberdeen scheme was launched after a similar project in Bristol had to be halted due to damage.
A responder on the Press & Journal’s website urged the vandals to be punished by the legal system, saying: “Punish the brainless who did this, come down hard on them.”
Meanwhile, others praised the benefits of the scheme and stressed they would continue to use the ebikes to get about the city.
Another poster added that the damage being done is “infuriating”, adding: “A brilliant initiative that I enjoyed using this week. I’ll be encouraging friends and colleagues to use this as much as possible. Hoping it remains a great service for the city despite the idiots.”
The team running the project has appealed for the public’s help in tracing any bikes that end up where they’re not supposed to be.
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