Aberdeen City Council has launched a hunt for a firm or charity to run a new cycle hire scheme.
Similar to London’s “Boris bikes”, residents would pay to pick up the bicycles from locations around the city.
The ruling Conservative, Aberdeen Labour and independent administration decided the private sector would provide the best model for running the service.
The authority estimates that the scheme will cost between £384,000 and £640,000 to set up, and between £153,600 and £256,000 to run.
Now a suppliers event is being held on Monday, November 11, to ascertain what organisations can offer in terms of cycles, docking stations, and management of the project.
A total of 32 locations for a bike hire scheme have been proposed and the council has pledged to work with any company or group to identify alternative or additional sites.
The bike hire scheme is part of the European-wide Civitas Portis transportation project, which is worth £3.2 million to the north-east.
The initiative has been led by Aberdeen City Council, and involves a consortium of council, university and private partners.
The partners for the project also include Aberdeenshire Council, Nestrans, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen University and Aberdeen Harbour Board.
Town house insiders have nicknamed the scheme “Barney bikes” after Lord Provost Barney Crockett.
Any company or third sector group wishing to attend the upcoming event should email TransportStrategy@aberdeencity.gov.uk.
