Bikers of the Big Smoke: this one’s for you. TfL have recently announced that the number of e-bikes in the capital city will increase from 600 to a whopping 2000. This will, of course, improve access to to TfL’s cycle hire scheme – but that’s not all. The scheme is also set to become a whole lot more affordable, as Transport for London have also announced the return of their handy Santander Cycles day pass.
David Eddington, TfL’s head of cycle hire, said: ”Santander Cycle e-bike usage in the capital is now more popular than ever so these additional e-bikes will allow more people to be able to access them.
“We’ve also listened to our customers regarding our fare tariff and are introducing a day pass to give people making multiple journeys in a day certainty about the overall cost of using the scheme.”
The new Santander Cycles day pass
It’s been two years since Londoners could last get a day pass for the Santander bikes, but as of March 3, the day passes are making a comeback. For just £3 per day, you can cycle around the capital city to your heart’s content.
It currently costs £1.65 to hire a bike for 30 minutes, so two short trips within a 24 hour period would make the day pass worthwhile. However, there is a (mildly inconvenient) caveat. You only get a maximum of 30 minutes with each hire on the day pass. So, if you’re heading out on a slightly longer journey; you’d need to dock your bike and rehire in order for it to be included in the pass. Additional time is charged at £1 per extra half an hour.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said the new day pass rate would “make Santander bikes one of the most affordable ways to travel in the capital”.
“I’m determined to continue building a cleaner, greener and more prosperous London for everyone, and Santander Cycles plays a hugely important role in making active travel around the city as accessible as possible,” he said.
Monthly and yearly memberships to the Santander Cycles scheme is also still available, both of which provide big savings if you are a regular e-bike user.
Read more about the different passes and memberships here.
Read more: 10 Wheely Good Routes For Cycling In London
