Free bike share offer in bid to get people into the saddle for daily trips
Free bike share will be provided in Edinburgh and Glasgow from today to encourage people to consider cycling for everyday journeys.
Through Scottish Government funding, the cycle share initiative comes into effect as more Covid-19 restrictions are 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 will be available for free hire in the cities for the first 30-minutes of every journey. In Glasgow, the first 30 minutes of standard cycle hire will be at no cost for the next eight weeks, and this will be extended to 60 minutes for existing subscribers – with no limit on the number of times the offer can be used.
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 perminute 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, andbikeshareoperatorsnextbike in Glasgow and Serco in Edinburgh.
Glasgow’s cycle hire scheme was launched in 2014, with nextbike currently making 800 bikes for hire across 79 city locations. In Edinburgh, over 500 “Just Eat” bikes are available for hire, with 107 stations across the capital.
Bothcitieshavecreatedmore cycle lane space in response to the coronavirus pandemic through Scottish Government funding, and bike share operators are undertaking enhanced cleaning regimes.
The free trips will be available to anyone, 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.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, 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 use of our public hire bicycle schemes across the lockdown period.”