Bike hire offer to encourage cycling take-up

Users of Edinburgh’s bike hire scheme can benefit from a four-month pass for the price of less than one, as part of an offer launching tomorrow (Monday 13 July).

People have been able to try out the bikes for free since 29 June under an initiative giving riders their first 30 minutes of use at no cost, encouraging the public to give cycling a go. Since then more than 2000 free passes have been redeemed.

The second phase of the deal aims to promote long-term use of the bikes by providing a limited number of four-month passes for just £10. The ‘Back to Work pass’ replaces the existing 30 minutes free offer to support people to consider alternatives to private car use while managing demand for public transport as they return to work.

This has been made possible by funding from Transport Scotland through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme.

Since the beginning of lockdown there has been a significant increase in cycling, with numbers up by 16% across the city’s bike counters, while the bike hire scheme experienced its most successful day yet.

To help people cycle and walk safely while observing physical distancing as lockdown restrictions are eased, we’re in the process of introducing temporary changes across the city, from road closures to temporary cycle lanes.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes (above) said: “We’re delighted to be able extend our offer to help more people benefit from our hire bikes for longer.

“As we begin to return to some sense of normality, and as residents go back to work, more people will need to travel, and this will provide an affordable alternative to private cars while reducing pressure on public transport.

“There’s been a real surge in cycling over recent months, and we want to see this continue, benefiting the environment and the public’s health. That’s why we’re delivering improvements across the city that will make cycling and walking even easier and safer as lockdown is lifted.”

George Lowder, Transport for Edinburgh Chief Executive, said: “Transport for Edinburgh are delighted that Transport Scotland have provided funding, to allow access to the Edinburgh Cycle Scheme, to provide experience of a car free alternative commute, as we begin to return to work.

Alex Macdonald, General Manager of Edinburgh Cycle Hire, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people trying the scheme for the first time thanks to the promotion.

“Cycle hire schemes offer users the chance to try cycling without investing in a bike or e-bike of their own, and are therefore a crucial gateway to convert people into regular cyclists.

“It is my hope that our new users continue to discover the benefits of city cycling and incorporate the scheme into their daily routines. Our recent usage figures show that more people have taken to cycling during the pandemic and to meet this demand we have invested operationally across the scheme to the benefit of new and existing users”.

In June, both Edinburgh and Glasgow launched free cycle share initiatives, made possible with funding from Transport Scotland through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, managed by charity Paths for All (see below).

Similarly to an annual pass, the £10 ‘Back to Work pass’ lets users hire a pedal bike for up to an hour at time, with per-minute charges after an hour, and removes the unlock fee on e-bikes. This will be available as the ‘Back to Work Pass’ option on the Just Eat Cycle app from 7am on Monday, 13 June.

The cycle share initiative came into effect last month through Scottish Government funding as part of Phase 2, when more COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, easing pressure on public transport and helping those who don’t own a bike or have anywhere to store one.

More than 1,300 cycles located at nearly 200 bike stations were made available for free hire in Edinburgh and Glasgow for the first 30-minutes of every journey.

Bikes can play an increasingly important role in Scotland’s green recovery by providing an alternative to private car journeys, helping manage demand on public transport, as well as benefiting health and the environment.

• In Edinburgh, the first 30 minutes of bike hire on pedal bikes will be free for the next 14 days. The usual per-minute charge is 10p. Access fees for e-bikes will also be free, although usage will incur the usual per-minute charge. Edinburgh also plans to release a new four-month discounted pass from July 13 to encourage long-term uptake of cycling.

The collaboration is being led by the charity CoMoUK which promotes the use of shared transport, and is funded by Transport Scotland through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme managed by the charity Paths for All.

The scheme is in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Transport for Edinburgh, and bike share operators nextbike in Glasgow and Serco in Edinburgh.

In Edinburgh, over 500 ‘Just Eat’ bikes are available for hire, with 107 stations across the capital.

Both cities have created more cycle lane space in response to the coronavirus pandemic through Scottish Government funding, and bike share operators are undertaking enhanced cleaning regimes, regularly cleaning handlebars and keypads.

The free trips will be available to anyone, for any type of journey, and can be used for exercise, shopping and commuting to work. Bikes can be hired on a ‘pay as you go’ basis or by subscription, with registration via app or website.

As more lockdown restrictions are eased, analysis shows that up to 55 per cent of employees could be travelling to their normal workplace, a rise from 30 per cent in full lockdown. That could result in an increase in the number of passengers on public transport by around by a third from current levels of 225,000 per day.

Transport Scotland continues to ask people to stay local where possible and to walk, wheel or cycle in order to manage demand on the public transport network and to protect our environment.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “I’m pleased we can offer free access to bikes in Glasgow and Edinburgh through our support of the Smarter Choices Smarter Places programme.

“We’ve seen increased rates of cycling and increased use of our public hire bicycle schemes across the lockdown period and this offer will help maintain this shift in travel behaviour at a critical time in our COVID-19 response.

“By offering free 30-minute trips, in conjunction with temporary infrastructure in Glasgow and Edinburgh, we can greatly incentivise more sustainable everyday journeys in Phases 2 and 3 of the Scottish Government route map.

“For people in our two biggest cities, this initiative will benefit our health, our environment and will help to manage demand on our public transport network.”

Lorna Finlayson, Scotland director of CoMoUK, said: “Investment in cycling capacity and infrastructure is vitally important, however we want to make sure that everyone, from all walks of life, can benefit.

“As bike share is accessible, affordable and flexible it can play an increasingly important role in Scotland’s green recovery by providing an alternative to private car journeys and helping to ease pressure on public transport.”

Councillor Anna Richardson, Glasgow City Council convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, said: “This free hire initiative will help to encourage people who perhaps haven’t considered cycling before to give it a try.

“Having 30 minutes of free travel every time will let people see for themselves that it’s a convenient, healthy and environmentally positive way to travel around our city centre and neighbourhoods.

“We’ve recently seen the popularity of cycling swell, and as lockdown restrictions are relaxed we’re keen to maintain this mode of travel as an attractive, safe, long-term transport choice for everyday journeys.”

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, City of Edinburgh Council transport and environment convener, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer free trips on our hire bikes.

“More and more people are making healthy, sustainable choices about how they travel around our capital city and this substantial offer will make it even easier and more attractive for more people enjoy cycling, including by e-bikes.

“Use of the cycle hire scheme has leapt in Edinburgh over recent months, along with cycling in general, which is very good news for the city and our residents.

“We’re implementing significant changes across the city to help people walk and cycle safely while observing physical distancing. Our additional offer of a discounted four-month bike hire membership will help many more people take advantage of these improvements as we emerge from lockdown.”

Ian Findlay CBE, chief officer at Paths for All, said: “Having Scotland’s two largest cities running an initiative like this at the sametime is hugely significant and sends a very clear message about the importance of a green recovery.

“It’s also the largest public bike hire scheme that our Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme has ever supported so we hope as many people as possible will take advantage of this project and realise the many benefits of active travel.”

Transport Scotland continues to ask people to stay local where possible and to walk, wheel or cycle in order to manage demand on the public transport network and to protect our environment.