For the first time in four years, Edinburgh is getting a new public bike hire service akin to those seen in London, Manchester and Glasgow.
50 bikes from the Swedish company Voi have been rolled out since September 3rd, with this number set to expand up to 800 by the end of the year (if all goes well).
Edinburgh scrapped the previous public bike hire service, Just Eat Cycles, in 2021 after just three years due to theft and vandalism issues, with bikes reportedly often thrown into the picturesque Water of Leith.
The scheme, which the council intended to be self-financing, ended up costing the city an eye-watering £1.8 million.
Will Voi succeed where Edinburgh’s last scheme failed?
The council are confident that the Voi roll out will go more smoothly and have banked on the company’s success across various UK cities like Liverpool, London and Northampton.
James Bolton, the general manager at Voi UK, has said their bikes are “more durable and less prone to vandalism” than the previous Just Eat Cycles bikes.
Since the previous scheme ended, Edinburgh was the largest European capital without a cycle hire network, and with schemes in London and Manchester expanding to record levels, there has been some pressure on the council since 2021 to implement a new project.
Stephen Jenkinson, the Labour councillor and transport convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, 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.”
How much will it cost to rent a Voi bike?
According to Voi, an average 20-minute ride will cost £2.20. This is significantly less than the average fee of £6.40 for a 20-minute ride on a Lime bike in London.
A ride will be even cheaper if you purchase a Voi 4 Students pass on the app, which gives you 20 per cent off rides. Only time will tell if lower prices and sturdier bikes will be enough to make cycle hire a lasting success in Edinburgh.
