CYCLING campaigners have backed the expansion of dockless bikes as hundreds more look set to appear in Oxford by the summer.

Ofo has launched another 200 bikes in the city – taking its total to 650 – and campaign group Cyclox said the concept was ‘tapping into a new market’.

The number of dockless bikes in the city is now well in excess of 1,000 and the other two firms – Pony Bikes and Mobike – both intend to expand ahead of the summer.

Pony Bikes currently has 450 bikes in Oxford and Mobike 200 – making the total 1,300.

Ofo’s new fleet, deployed in the city last week, will have dynamo front lights, solar back lights, three gears and adjustable seats.

Cyclox chairman, Simon Hunt, said: “We welcome the continued expansion of dockless bike systems in the city.

“With more bikes available, the chances increase of finding a handy bike nearby.

“It looks as though these schemes are tapping into a new market – if this indicates a shift from care use, it benefits everyone.”

Fellow campaigner, Tristram Wyatt, said it was an ‘exciting’ time for cycling in Oxford.

He said: “So far, theft and vandalism of dockless bikes has been rare.

“Oxford has been a model city, much better than other UK cities.

“Dockless bike could help offer more cycling opportunities without worsening the chronic shortage of secure bike parking in the city.

“Some Oxford colleges in the city centre hope that students might use them instead of getting their own.”

“Overall, the brightly painted dockless bikes may encourage many more people to start cycling – it’s an exciting time for cycling in the city.”

Oxford City Council’s ‘cycling champion’, councillor Louise Upton, said for the concept to work there needed to be enough bikes so that one was always nearby.

She said: “Ofo is expanding after discussing it with the city council.

“It has demonstrated that it has a dedicated team on the ground who are responding to problems quickly and ensuring the bicycles are properly maintained.

“For these bicycles to form part of the public transport offer in the city, there needs to be a sufficient number of them to ensure that one is never too far away.”

Ofo was the first dockless company to launch in the city shortly after the city council and county council created a ‘code of conduct’ for providers.

It initially deployed 200 bikes but its has now been given permission to expand twice.

Ofo’s UK general manager, Joseph Seal-Driver, said: “We were delighted with our launch in Oxford and have been pleased with how the bikes have been received by locals.”

The bikes differ from similar schemes such as 'Boris Bikes' in London because they do not need to be left at a dock for locking.