Edinburgh's cycle hire scheme powered up with e-bikes

A fleet of nearly 170 electric bikes will be launched next year.

A rider cruises up Victoria Street on a new electric hire bike.
Author: Max SteelePublished 18th Sep 2019
Last updated 18th Sep 2019

Edinburgh's hilly streets might put many locals off huffing and puffing their way around the city on two wheels - but the capital's bike hire scheme is offering a solution.

The first electric Just Eat Cycles have arrived in the city.

An initial 30 e-bikes will be trialed at events and tested with local organisations and communities in the coming months, before a fleet of 168 is launched in Spring 2020 for full public use.

They have a maximum supported speed of 15 mph and will be located throughout the city’s existing hire points and unlocked via the same app.

The e-bikes are similar to the existing pedal bikes but have a slightly different frame, a new colour scheme and the addition of a slim battery pack and motor.

The scheme run by Serco on behalf of Transport for Edinburgh launched in September 2018.

There are currently 75 hire points around the city, and around 500 pedal bikes across the fleet