After the spectacular failure that was the Just Eat Cycles scheme, Edinburgh is finally giving e-bike hire another go. When the city’s council announced plans to bring bike hire back, there were bids from the likes of Dot and Lime, but yesterday (August 18) it was revealed that Swedish company Voi will be running the scheme. And it’s set to begin in a matter of days.
Like Lime, Voi doesn’t use docks – riders simply park their vehicles at a safe and convenient place along the pavement or street. It already runs bikes and scooters in a number of UK cities, including Liverpool, London and Northampton.
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The new scheme comes four years after the city’s previous cycle hire scheme folded. Edinburgh introduced Just Eat Cycles by Serco in 2018, which used docks stationed across the city. By 2020, one in four of the bikes had to be fixed each week and a number of the vehicles were being thrown into the Water of Leith. Even though it was designed so that there were no running costs for the city itself, Just Eat Cycles ended up costing Edinburgh City Council £1.8m. Serco refused to continue running the service because of the high costs associated with the frequent damage.
It’s hoped that this new contract really will be run at no cost to the council. With dockless bikes, the main concern is that streets will be littered with recklessly parked, hazardous bikes – but similar to London, the local authority will apparently collect any inappropriately stationed vehicles and charge Voi a fee for their return.
Stephen Jenkinson, Edinburgh’s transport boss, said: ‘I’m delighted that we’ve reached this key milestone to deliver a new cycle hire scheme for Edinburgh. Voi brings a wealth of experience in this field, operating across the UK and internationally, and I’m very excited to see how the scheme will progress here in the capital.
‘My thanks also go to council colleagues who have been able to turn around this vital scheme for our city quickly and efficiently. From allowing our residents and visitors a new way to travel around the city, through to cutting congestion, pollution and beyond – the scheme will bring a host of benefits to Edinburgh.’
When will Voi e-bikes be available to hire in Edinburgh?
The contract begins on Friday, August 22. It’s not clear exactly when the bikes will be available for public use, but Jenkinson said that they would be rolled out across the city over the autumn.
How much will Edinburgh Voi e-bikes cost?
Based on other cities, Voi riders can expect to pay a 50p unlocking fee, then between 20-25p per minute – that’s around £3 for 10 minutes. Here’s hoping Edinburgh’s bike hire scheme has more success the second time round.
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