In the summer of 1999 Cambridgeshire's Trading Standards Service carried out a survey of hire bikes and found a significant number of them to be defective.

It is our aim to improve the standard of hire bicycles so we set up a scheme with like-minded local traders to ensure consumers safety when cycling around the county. Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Cambridgeshire County Council's Road Safety team also support the scheme.

All the businesses in the scheme have agreed to commit to the safe and fair hiring of bicycles and the promotion of high standards of customer satisfaction.

What will the scheme mean to you as a trader?
You will be asked to sign up to a comprehensive code of practice. This will enable you to hire a bicycle with increased confidence that the cycles will be safe and legal to use.

How is the scheme monitored?
Cambridgeshire's Trading Standard Service regularly visits participating members to check that they are complying with the code and the spirit of the scheme.

Cambridgeshire's Trading Standards has the right to expel traders found not complying with the code.