Major expansion of e-bike hire in London via Santander Cycles

The e-bike fleet will total 2,000 bikes by the end of summer

Transport for London (TfL) and Santander are making “significant improvements” to the Santander Cycles programme by more than tripling the number of e-bikes available for hire.

The e-bike fleet will total 2,000 bikes by the end of the summer. The e-bikes have broken records this year, with more than a million rental contracts since they were introduced in 2022. The bikes are rented out about twice as often as a classic bike, underlining their popularity.

The new e-bikes will ensure that even more Londoners can enjoy the benefits that cycling can bring, from better health to cleaner air. The new bikes will also help to break down the barriers that can prevent some people from cycling, including fitness and journey length. Thursday 27th June saw the highest number of e-bike users to date, with 3,584 people hiring, highlighting the importance of expanding the fleet to ensure more people across the capital have access to bikes.

E-bikes are available to registered users, at a rate of £3.30 per 30-minute ride or £1 per 60 minutes for monthly and annual members. The price for a single e-bike ride is cheaper than any other provider in London. With the £3 day pass, e-bikes can be rented for an additional £1 per 30 minutes.

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Customers can use the Santander Cycles app to rent bikes and quickly see where all the e-bikes are in London. The battery levels of e-bikes are also displayed in the app.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Our Santander e-bikes are proving hugely popular with Londoners and that’s why I’m delighted that we’re tripling our e-bike fleet this summer. These additional bikes will enable even more people to make shorter journeys, helping to create a better, fairer and greener London for everyone.”

David Eddington, Head of Bike Hire at TfL, said: “Santander Cycles is a vital part of London’s public transport system. The scheme has grown in popularity, making bike hire an integral part of travelling in the capital.

“These additional e-bikes will give more people in London the chance to try out these great bikes and use them more often. Santander Cycles has played a key role in encouraging more people to cycle and we will continue to improve the programme to ensure a greener, healthier future for everyone in London. We look forward to completing our expansion by the end of the summer.”

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