"Great service"

Sherry was very helpful and friendly. Many thanks!

"Quick & certain response!"

They're straight & quick for response!

"Too expensive"

Too expensive. They’re taking advantage of students in Hyde park and burley as they have been commissioned as the only rentable bike provider in Leeds by Leeds council. They should’ve got Lime Bikes instead as they function smoother, more comfortable, and are cheaper.

"Got charged for not parking bike in a…"

Got charged for not parking bike in a bay, spoke to Sherry who quickly identified there was a gps issue with the bike & immediately issued a refund. Very happy with the service i recieved.

"Disappointing Experience Despite Loyalty – Needs Serious Improvement"

I’ve been using Beryl Bikes in Manchester for about a year now, and according to my account, I’ve completed 484 rides, covering 357.8 km over 3341 minutes. So I feel pretty qualified to share an honest review.

Manchester already had one failed attempt at a bike hire scheme, where bikes were repeatedly vandalised, stolen, or thrown into canals. So when Beryl launched—backed by the local government—I was genuinely hopeful. The prices are affordable, which is a plus. But unfortunately, that’s where the positives end for me.

In reality, probably more than half of the rides logged on my account never actually happened. The bikes often don’t unlock, no matter how many times I wiggle the lock or switch between contactless and manual unlock via the app. Whether it’s technical faults or damage caused by people who’ve learned how to force the locks open for free rides, it’s incredibly frustrating—especially when you’re trying to get somewhere quickly but instead waste time battling with the system.

Even when I manage to unlock a bike (usually after 2 or 3 attempts—worth noting I have the latest iPhone and 5G), it’s often poorly maintained. I’ve encountered broken gears, misaligned handlebars, and even had a chain snap mid-ride. At that point, you have to get off and walk the bike to a station to avoid additional charges.

Ending a ride isn’t straightforward either. The front lock on many bays often doesn’t engage properly, and even when it does, the app sometimes doesn’t recognise it. You end up staring at your screen for 45 seconds while the app times out, hoping it registers the lock. Taking photos of properly docked bikes has become second nature—I have hundreds now—just to cover myself.

I’ve also been wrongly charged the £10 “did not lock bike properly” fee many times. Thankfully, customer service is responsive and processes refunds quickly if you send a photo, but the process still takes a few minutes. That’s not ideal when you’re in a rush or standing in the rain.

Compared to similar schemes I’ve used around the world, Beryl’s system falls short. In other cities, bikes are better maintained, unlock smoothly, and can be reserved ahead of time. You can even flash lights or play sounds to help locate your bike—simple features that make a big difference.

I’ve tried to stay patient, understanding that Beryl is working to adapt to the Manchester market. But after a year of loyalty, I’ve received no compensation for these ongoing issues—just inconvenience after inconvenience. At this point, I believe opening up the market to other providers could encourage real improvements through competition.

Finally, with Beryl’s recent announcement about expanding the e-bike fleet, I hope they consider the city’s terrain. People living in hilly areas like the Green Quarter, Cortland, Anaconda Cut, and around Manchester Victoria would really benefit from having more e-bikes available nearby.

Here’s hoping for better days—or better bikes.

"The great customer service and their…"

The great customer service and their ability to adapt to personal situations when having rare issues with the bikes.

Erin, from newquay

"OVERCHARGED AND REFUSED REFUND "

My son used the beryl bike, he forgot to lock it in a panic as his friend left his bag somewhere. They jumped on the train as it was quicker to find the bag. He contacted Beryl straight away to say he had forgotten to lock the bike, explained what had happened about the bag. They charged him £35 in fees even though the website says the maximum they can charge is £25. He offered to return to where he had parked the bike after they found the bag but they blocked his account and didnt give any of the money back. This is a rip of scheme. They didnt tell him anything about the fees when he signed up and it was his first time using the bike. They didnt let him move it back into zone as they blocked his account and took his money. They wouldnt even refund the £10 they overcharged him! Be careful giving them your card number

"Evan was extremely helpful and very…"

Evan was extremely helpful and very friendly. Very happy with my service.

"Report of damaged bikes"

I reported some bikes that had been damaged. I got a response very quickly. Very good.

"Shambolic and NEGLIGENT company"

Shambolic and NEGLIGENT company. Left me stranded alone in a pitch black park at night miles away from home. Customer service was completely useless and couldn’t have cared less. NEVER AGAIN..

As for Scotts's reply:
- Sherry was unable to do anything whatsoever to help me and then simply disappeared without saying bye when your "customer service" hours ended
- If you are aware that the location is inappropriate for a bike bay, REMOVE IT, the fact you are are aware of this issue which could leave your customers stranded (and did on this occasion at night time in the dark) and have done nothing is even worse and once again NEGLIGENT on your part. Saying it is an issue you are "continuously working to improve" is an empty, meaningless statement
- I managed to unlock one of the bikes manually myself (no help whatsoever from you) and had to push (not ride) it to the city centre because it did not work and when I tried to swap it for another bike, I was unable to do so because surprise surprise, i locked the bike and this did not register on the app (which happens almost every time) and it did not end the ride on the app or allow me to unlock a new bike, hence i had to pay for an uber home
- Regardless of whether the ride was free under your current offer, this experience could have happened to any of your paying customers so this makes no difference, my comment still stands
- Neither you or any of the other "customer service" agents have acknowledged how utterly dangerous and unacceptable the situation you left me in was

Final Update: Beryl blocked my account for making a legitimate complaint about their negligence. Tells you absolutely everything you need to know about the company!