by James Scott

A million pound project to install foldable hire bikes at four Kent stations has been given the go-ahead.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has agreed to fund a Brompton Dock facility with 20 bicycles, which can be hired by commuters, at Ashford International station.

There will be another 20 bicycles and racks at Canterbury West, Maidstone East and Tonbridge stations.

Southeastern does not allow passengers to carry normal bicycles on trains at peak times but it will permit Brompton bikes when folded.

Brompton Dock sales manager Michael Foster said: “It folds into a briefcase size, it’s pretty straightforward.

“You can fold it up, take it on the bus, on the train or to your office. It’s really becoming part of people’s transport network.”

A pilot scheme at Guildford station in Surrey, with a dock of 40 hire bikes, has attracted 47 registered commuters.

Once the docks are installed commuters can register online to get a PIN number, which they can text along with the dock number in order to gain an access code to the dock.

A bike can then be released and used as much as the user wishes. Once the bike is returned to the dock, the user’s credit card will be charged. Charges range from £6 for a day, £15 for a week or £50 for a month.

The DfT, which has been working closely with charity Sustrans and the Cycle Rail Working Group, will put forward £124,000 for the project with a further £876,000 coming from Southeastern and the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. Nationally around £37million is being spent to deliver improvements.

Michael Roberts from the Cycle Rail Working Group said: “Train companies and the rail industry as a whole recognise the important role cycling plays in our growing railway and the Cycle Rail Working Group has been working hard on how we can improve cycle-rail provision further.

“This money is a real boost to the group’s work and is good news for passengers.

"It will allow the industry to extend and develop cycling facilities across the country, offering more people a low-cost and environmentally friendly way to get to and from the station.”

Brompton Docks plans to start installing the facilities this spring and summer.