Watford’s Beryl bikes network could expand to take in a second Met Line station.

Three Rivers District Council would like to spend £45,000 expanding the cycle hire scheme into Croxley Green for two years.

Cyclists have ridden around 1.115 million kilometres (692,627 miles) on the Beryl bikes in Watford since the scheme launched in March 2020 – the same distance as travelling around the world almost 28 times.

Watford London Underground station is within the scheme zone, but Croxley falls less than a mile outside the cycling area.

Three Rivers District Council members will consider the plan at a Policy and Resources Committee meeting on Monday, December 4.

The cash for the two-year pilot would fund 15 e-bikes and come from existing long-term spending budgets, but a report notes the authority could also apply for funding from its Community Infrastructure Levy – a charge on housebuilders and developers in its area.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Lloyd represents Durrants ward in Croxley Green and is responsible for leisure in the district.

He said: “I am keen to see more people using alternative means of transport to their cars.

“We will monitor the scheme to see how it goes. I think it is a very positive thing which I am in favour of, but we will have to see whether it meets the needs of Croxley. There will be electric bikes, so they could suit people who may not have done much cycling before.”

Green Party councillor Narinder Sian said: “I am really enthusiastic about it.”

He added: “It would be amazing to connect Watford with Croxley Green, then through to Rickmansworth.

“If we generate the demand for cycling, we can improve the infrastructure for all sorts of cyclists.

“Connecting Croxley Station with the industrial area would be great for commuters who might not want to use their cars.

“Cycling improvements could reduce the number of car journeys, reduce congestion, improve air quality, connect people and build communities."

According to Beryl, the firm has 200 bikes and 100 e-bikes in Watford, plus 45 bikes and 25 e-bikes as part of a separate scheme in Borehamwood.

The firm also has a fleet of eight cargo bikes in Hackney and four in Westminster.

The Watford scheme has 33,171 active users, and the average ride time is 25 minutes