CYCLISTS will be able to hire bikes for the first time next year — and may even be able to use them free for half-an-hour.

Oxfordshire County Council is spending at least £70,000 to set up the 24-hour scheme in the city with 90 bicycles available at 28 locations in the hope of cutting traffic congestion and building on the city’s cycling reputation.

It is not known how much the council will charge, but yesterday Ian Hudspeth, cabinet member for transport, said he hoped it might follow similar projects elsewhere where the first half-an-hour’s hire for subscribers is free.

Cyclox, the Oxford bicycle campaign group, last night welcomed confirmation the longstanding plan would finally hit the road in summer 2010.

The council is initially launching it as an 18-month project but hopes to then expand it.

The pilot would allow cyclists to pick up bikes from 150 new cycle parking spaces at key locations including the train station, hospitals, both universities and Seacourt and Redbridge park and rides.

The council will also be seeking to help pay for it by selling advertising at the parking bays.

Mr Hudspeth said: “The possibility of bringing a cycle hire scheme to Oxford is something we have been keen to explore for a while.

“We believe a large number of residents, visitors, tourists and workers could reap the benefits of a well organised and user-friendly scheme.

“If we can switch people from cars to bikes it will reduce congestion, pollution and make Oxford a much more pleasant place while also giving health benefits to the user.

“We want the scheme to be as cheap as possible so the bikes are well used but we don’t think we should bear the cost of this alone.”

Mr Husdpeth would like to follow in the tyre tracks of smaller pilots under way in Reading, Cheltenham and Bristol, where half-an-hour’s use is free although there is an annual registration fee of between £10 and £18.

A report by the council’s head of transport Steve Howell warns that Oxford’s existing cycling culture could reduce take-up of the pilot.

However, James Styring, chairman of Cyclox, said he would be among the first to join up as he does not always want to leave his own bike in the city centre.

He said: “I think it’s a brilliant scheme and will do a lot to encourage cycling in the city.”

Oxford Brookes sustainable travel co-ordinator Mary Horan said: “We’d like to have hire bikes based on our sites which Brookes staff and students could use as a means of travelling between our campuses and the city centre. We will be looking at contributing financially to the scheme but it’s too soon to say how much this contribution might be.”

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk