WMG engineers work on building the next generation “Boris Bikes”

Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) engineers helped England’s longest-established bicycle manufacturer, Pashley Cycles, win the contract to supply the next generation of bicycles for Transport for London (TfL) ‘Cycle Hire Scheme’.

Formerly known as “Boris Bikes”, the brand-new fleet of London’s Santander Cycles hit the streets of London last week.

WMG’s technology advice and support helped make the new bicycles 10% lighter than the current model, making them easier to maintain and navigate. New features include safety and comfort, improved handling, tyres with puncture protection, new gel saddle, Bluetooth, and more.

WMG is an academic department based at the University of Warwick, providing research, knowledge transfer and expertise in the region, as well as offering postgraduate degrees on the Warwick campus and internationally.

WMG Innovation Manager, Scott Crowther, said: “Pashley’s continuing partnership with WMG specifically focused on supporting Pashley’s capabilities in the areas of design for manufacture, product innovation, skills development and business leadership.”

The WMG SME Group has had a long-standing and successful partnership with Stratford-upon-Avon based Pashley Cycles, which celebrated its 90th anniversary last year.

Adrian Williams, Managing Director of Pashley Cycles, said: “I am grateful to WMG for providing design and prototyping assistance, which enabled us to present a strong, collaborative bid and helped win the contract.”

TfL’s ‘Cycle Hire Scheme’ was initiated in 2010 to tackle traffic congestion and air pollution within the city, with currently 73,000 cycle hires per day.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, remarked: “It’s great news that the first of our brand-new cycle hire bikes have arrived on London’s streets.

Tens of thousands of Londoners and tourists enjoy using the bikes to get around our city every single day, so by making them more comfortable and maneuverable, we’re hoping they’ll be even more popular”.

Thousands more bikes are set to be supplied from Pashley Cycles over the next few years, boosting the cycle hire scheme.