Santander Cycles and TfL revamp London bike-share with new day pass and more e-bikes

Credit: Transport for London

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that it is set to make cycling more accessible and affordable in the capital with the introduction of a new day pass for the Santander Cycles scheme. Recognising that the lack of access to bikes is a significant barrier to cycling, this initiative aims to eliminate this hurdle and promote sustainable transport options.

In response to user feedback, a revamped tariff structure will be implemented from 3 March 2024. The new day pass offers excellent value, providing unlimited hires up to 30 minutes within 24 hours for £3. For hires surpassing the 30-minute mark, an additional £1.65 will be charged for each extra 30 minutes, making it an economical choice for frequent users.

Building on the success of the Santander e-bikes introduced in 2022, the fleet is expanding from 600 to 2,000 bikes. This expansion is geared towards making affordable e-bikes more readily available to Londoners. The popularity of e-bikes is evident, with over 750,000 e-bike hires recorded since their introduction. The additional e-bikes will be strategically distributed across key central London locations and can be conveniently docked at any of the scheme’s 800 docking stations. In addition, these e-bikes are serviced on the street using cargo bikes and electric vans.

With the new day pass, users gain access to Santander Cycles e-bikes at an additional cost of £1 per half hour. Non-members will continue to pay the standard fare of £3.30 per 30-minute e-bike ride, while monthly and annual members enjoy a reduced fare of £1 per 60 minutes.

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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m delighted that we’re adding a further 1,400 new e-bikes to the fleet, almost tripling the number available to hire. The e-bikes have proved hugely popular since they were introduced and help break down the barriers that stop some people from cycling.”

David Eddington, TfL’s Head of Cycle Hire, said: “Santander Cycles is a vital part of London’s transport system and we are constantly looking for ways to improve the scheme, as well as making it as accessible as we can.”

Dan Sherwood, Chief Marketing Officer at Santander UK said: “It’s fantastic to still see so many people choosing a healthy way to get around and contributing to a more sustainable transport network in London.”