Northern Ireland's first public bike share scheme is due to be in place next Spring, following the appointment of NSL as operators.

Belfast City Council appointed NSL, whose consultancy arm, Project Centre, worked on the London Bike Hire scheme. NSL is set to deliver and maintain the scheme, with Nextbike providing the bicycle infrastructure and management system.

Up to 30 docking stations will be provided as part of the first phase of the scheme. Detailed design will happen over the next three months and construction of the docking stations is due to take place from November 2014 to February 2015.

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Transport Minister, Danny Kennedy, has welcomed the announcement and said: "My Department is providing over £1million capital funding for this scheme which is an important element of my goal in achieving a cycling revolution in Northern Ireland, and delivering a flagship Active Travel Demonstration Project for Belfast.

"Similar schemes in London and Dublin have already proved very successful, giving people the option of jumping on a bike for short journeys across the cities at very little cost whether for business or leisure.

"The Belfast bike scheme will put cycling in the heart of city and will provide a sustainable and inexpensive transport system for local people and visitors. It will be a much healthier way to travel for both the public and the environment and will help reduce traffic congestion in the city."

(CD)