Edinburgh bike hire firm Just Eat Cycles hits new rentals record

Nearly 1,600 hires on Wednesday as lockdown cycling boom reaches new peak.

At least 550 Just Eat Cycles are available to rent in Edinburgh. Picture: Greg Macvean.

Managers have hailed the “phenomenal usage” of the scheme as people take advantage of the capital’s quieter streets.

It set a new record on Wednesday with 1,589 trips taken by more than 1,100 riders.

May has also been Just Eat Cycles’ busiest to date, with the number of different people using the scheme nearly doubling to 6,400.

Electric bikes were added to the Edinburgh hire scheme in March. Picture: Greg Macvean

Total trips this year have reached 63,000 which is already half the number taken in 2019, with more than 200,000 expected by December.

The scheme, which was launched in September 2018, has 550 bikes for hire across the city and more than 70 electric bikes.

General manager Alex Macdonald said: “We are extremely encouraged that around 25 per cent of all of our trips over the last few weeks have been from key worker stations, including the Western General Hospital and Edinburgh Royal infirmary.

“We have been ensuring all bikes leave our depot with touch points properly sanitised.

“All drivers are wearing appropriate PPE to protect themselves and others.

“We continue to rely on customers to use the bikes responsibly.”

Mr Macdonald said all 100 free NHS passes, made available with cycling developers Sustrans, had been allocated.

Just Eat Cycles is run by Serco on behalf of Edinburgh City Council-run Transport for Edinburgh.

Council transport convener Lesley Macinnes said: “It is clear there has been a significant change in travel habits over recent weeks, as these figures demonstrate.

“We’ve seen a real and welcome surge in cycling, both through the city’s cycle hire scheme and in those who own, or have decided to buy, bikes.

“What we need to do now is harness this enthusiasm by putting in place infrastructure that helps people feel safe to cycle as restrictions are eased and road traffic increases.

“More decisions by individuals to cycle, walk and wheel as we move through the different stages of lockdown easing will help to offset the negative impacts of congestion and air pollution as some people return to using their cars.

“Our plans to introduce these kinds of measures across the city will not only help people observe physical distancing at the moment, but will help maintain these levels of cycling as we move to a more sustainable future for Edinburgh.”

Forth Bikes, which rents electric bikes in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire, said total miles cycled by its riders had quadrupled from its previous peak last July to nearly 12,000 in April.

Forth Environment Link, which runs the scheme, expects the total will increase further this month.

It said membership since the lockdown started in March had increased by 902 to 3,054.

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