Santander Cycles Leicester has announced new prices to help residents and visitors make the most of the city’s e-bike scheme, with a 20-minute journey now available from as little as 60p.
Just over a year on from its launch in Leicester, the joint initiative with Leicester City Council has seen over 20,000 people complete almost 53,0000 trips using the Santander Cycles Leicester e-bikes.
The already popular scheme looks set to become even more so with a new pricing structure offering anyone visiting, living or working in the city the opportunity to get around by e-bike.
Following feedback from riders, the new, easy-to-follow pricing structure is based on the number of minutes the bike is in use, and the addition of a virtual wallet allows users to have total control of their expenses.
Under the new system, Pay As You Go users can make use of e-bikes whenever the need arises without paying an unlocking fee. After a fixed £1.20 fee for the first 20 minutes, users will only be charged for the number of minutes riding the e-bike.
Regular users of the scheme, including commuters, will be rewarded with further reduced costs. They will enjoy the first 20 minutes of each ride for just 60p, followed by a reduced rate per minute the bike is in use.
Monthly Membership cost just £12 and Yearly Membership £60 – student discount available – meaning regular users will reap the rewards of signing up to a subscription; a 25-minute ride on a Pay As You Go plan costs £1.70, compared to just 85p with a Membership.
With a packed schedule of summer events, Leicester is the ideal city to discover by e-bike.
Visitors can discover the colourful artworks of Bring the Paint Street Art Festival (23-39 May) by bike, or perhaps enjoy a leisurely cycle along Leicester’s waterways whilst taking in Riverside Festival (4-5 June).
Currently, the e-bike scheme has 37 docking stations, with around 350 cycles in use across the city. New additions include stations at the University of Leicester, Braunstone Leisure Centre, County Hall and Almond Road with more planned over the coming weeks. Once complete, it will be the largest docked e-bike scheme in the country, offering 500 e-bikes across 50 stations.
Both bikes and docks can be pre-booked, and users are encouraged to do so. Pre-booking guarantees users can start and end their journey at their desired stations. Dock bookings are free until 30 June.
Other changes include the addition of a virtual wallet, allowing users to have total control of their expenses by adding credit to their accounts to spend on trips and bookings.
The decision to update the pricing structure is in response to users’ feedback and the different ways that workers and residents are using the city since the pandemic.
Miguel Vital, Ride On’s CEO commented:
“Since launching the e-bike scheme last year we've been making efforts to make cycling the most convenient solution for residents and visitors. Now, with this new pricing structure, we are answering the call from our users to become an affordable, convenient and easy-to-use means of transportation in the city, especially for those signing up to long-term memberships.”
“The installation of new stations in key areas is a step forward in connecting Leicester’s neighbourhoods and to help create a more sustainable city.”
Start your ride today by downloading the Ride On app, or for more information visit rideonleicester.com.
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