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E-bikes finally coming to London's Santander Cycles hire fleet from next year

Idea was first mooted in 2013; could expansion of hiring zone see it expand to hillier parts of capital?

Almost a decade after the idea of adding electric bikes to the capital’s fleet of hire bicycles was first mooted, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that e-bikes will finally be introduced to the Santander Cycles scheme next year.

The announcement comes as the financial services provider renews its backing of the hugely popular scheme, which has seen record numbers of users over the past year due in part to people switching to two wheels during the coronavirus pandemic, until 2025.

TfL says that the scheme will expand into new parts of the city – and while as yet those have not been specified, it could be that bikes will be available for hire in some of the hillier parts of London, as was envisaged back in 2013 when a potential trial of e-bikes was announced, but never happened.

Besides 500 e-bikes being added to the fleet from next summer, a permanent discount for NHS staff will also be offered, says TfL.

Santander Cycles renewal via TfL

Launched in July 2010, the past year has seen 18 of the 20 busiest days in the history of the scheme, initially launched when Boris Johnson was Mayor of London, and backed by Barclays Bank.

According to TfL figures, 24-hour Santander Cycles membership registrations rose by 193 per cent from March 2020 to March 2021, the biggest increase in the history of the scheme.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Cycling has been a lifeline for many Londoners over the past year and I’m determined to make it even more accessible to help us rebuild as a cleaner and greener city. Santander Cycle hire is key to this, so I’m delighted that TfL will be rolling out the scheme’s first e-bikes in summer next year and expanding it to cover new parts of our city thanks to Santander’s continued support.

“I’m so pleased that our city’s heroic keyworkers have accessed more than 100,000 free hires since we introduced the offer in March last year. I’m delighted that TfL is now developing a permanent discount for NHS workers as a token of appreciation.”

Nathan Bostock, CEO, Santander UK, commented: “Since our partnership with TfL began in 2015, Santander Cycles has continued to thrive and is a great example of our commitment to supporting the communities in which we operate.

“Over the years we have worked hard to ensure Santander Cycles plays an important part in keeping communities connected and mobile in a healthy, sustainable and affordable way. From the creation of the hire app, the installation of the green safety Beryl Laserlights, to the introduction of contactless payment systems, we are proud to have brought innovation to the scheme and crucially helped people and businesses prosper along the way.

“We look forward to working together with TfL on the exciting plans we have for the fantastic scheme over the coming years,” he added.

London is lagging behind Paris when it comes to giving electric assistance to users of its city-wide cycle hire scheme, however.

When the French capital’s Vélib' scheme was relaunched in January 2018, three in 10 bikes were e-bikes – which turned out to be a big factor behind the explosion in cycling that the French capital has seen over the past 18 months or so, with locals increasingly turning to two wheels first as a result of public transport strikes in late 2019 and then, of course, the coronavirus pandemic.

> Paris to get new Vélib' bike hire fleet - and 3 in 10 will be e-bikes

Velib 2018 - 04 (picture via Paris.fr).PNG

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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8 comments

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andreacasalotti | 2 years ago
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The article doesn't mention how the batteries will be recharged.

At present Jump/Lime swaps empty batteries by going around and locating the bikes with low charge; a very costly exercise (PedalMe has been contracted to do it)

It would make more sense for the TfL bikes to be charged when docked, but will TfL refit all docking stations?

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to andreacasalotti | 2 years ago
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Don't they already do that with the lights or are they using dynamo action?

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Rakkor | 2 years ago
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I had a problem at work with my bike last year, and had a  look at hiring  a Lime bike for my commute home, but the cost of doing so for my 40 minute ride, was more than my train fare so never bothered.

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markieteeee replied to Rakkor | 2 years ago
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At current London cycle hire scheme prices, the 40 minute journey would be £4 (ie £2 unlocking fee plus £2 for the 30 minute-1 hour part). It will be interesting to see if the electric bikes added to the fleet are charged at the same rate.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to markieteeee | 2 years ago
1 like

That was one thing with the Santander ones were I could travel most places at £2 for the day. Specifically great when getting from Euston to the Holborn office when visting there. Birmingham has just started one but are charging from the minute it is undocked (plus the undocking fee) so I doubt I would be using it much. (Plus we are hillier then most of the London area covered by the bike hire scheme).

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markieteeee replied to AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
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I think that's their best selling point - the ability to make unlimited journeys around zones 1 and 2 for £2 (as long as each are under 30 minutes). This compares with £7.40 daily cap for the tube (or £4.65 if you stick to the bus). Plus you get to see how places link, which you don't when you emerge from the underground at new location.

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Dave Dave | 2 years ago
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Why is this even a question? Jump! bikes are what we need. Who owns them now? Lime? Anyway, they've got the bikes right. The rest should be easy. If the area expands to cover the whole of London, they'll be a genuinely practical way of getting around.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Dave Dave | 2 years ago
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Plus point with docks are the bikes are left in specific places. Downsides are the spaces are limited so if you arive at a place busy place (central london,) there is a good chance there is no room at the Dock. Still prefer those to the "left anywheren I feel like it" attitude with the dockless bikes and scooters though. Birmingham has just started Dock bikes but also have a scooter trial. The latter are a menace to people in wheelchairs. But I noticed people thinking the bikes are the same so three were left with a pile of scooters in one section. They will be surprised when they get their charge the next day. 

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