How to save money - and aggravation - using Edinburgh and Glasgow's fun new electric hire bikes

I’ve been riding Voi’s zippy new electric hire bikes since they hit the streets of Edinburgh and Glasgow last autumn - and they have proved a fast, cheap and fun way to get about.

They are also proving very popular, with nearly twice as many hires in the capital since its scheme started in September compared to the previous Just Eat Cycles operation, and up to three times as many in Scotland’s largest city since its re-launch in November compared to the previous year.

But despite finding them easy to use, there are some hidden features which have either delighted or enraged me.

The Scotsman Transport Correspondent Alastair Dalton on a Voi electric hire bike on Waterloo Street in Glasgow city centre | John Devlin/The Scotsman

I’m sharing these so you can take advantage and avoid them respectively.

Getting access to the bikes is beautifully simple: Download the Voi app on to your phone, add your bank card details, locate a bike on the app’s map, then scan its QR code to unlock, and off you go.

You can clip your phone on to the bike which will charge it as you cycle.

Finishing your ride is equally straightforward - park the bike, press the “end” button on the app, then take a photo of the bike and upload it. It takes seconds.

So far, so hassle free.

In Edinburgh, the pay-as-you-go rate is 11p per minute plus a 49p unlocking charge. In Glasgow, it’s 16p a minute with no unlocking fee.

It can be cheaper per minute in both cities to pay for 45-300 minutes or a monthly pass.

However, I’ve discovered you can reduce the cost even further with hidden discounts.

Alastair Dalton riding a Voi bike on a segregated cycle lane on Waterloo Street in Glasgow city centre | John Devlin/The Scotsman

First off, riders can get money off by wearing a helmet and uploading a selfie on the app.

I came across this by chance - by swiping up on the pop up which appears when scanning the QR code to unlock the bike. Not obvious.

Swipe up the pop up identifying the bike after scanning its QR code to get the helmet discount | Voi

There are also significant discounts for several groups, albeit with slightly different rates in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

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People on low incomes, refugees, asylum seekers, those with disabilities and the over 60s get 50 per cent off in Edinburgh and 70 per cent off in Glasgow.

Students, apprentices and staff at higher education institutions qualify for a 50 per cent saving, while NHS staff, Blue Light Card holders, military personnel and veterans can get 50 per cent off in Glasgow and 20 per cent off in Edinburgh.

To apply, you have to go onto the Voi website.

That’s the good news. Now for something I’ve found very irritating - but can be ameliorated.

Bikes may only be parked in designated areas, but there’s a maximum number which can be left at each location.

Once that’s reached, you’ll have to ride to another parking area to end your ride and stop being charged.

This can be particularly annoying if such a location is close to your home and the nearest alternative is half a mile away.

"Full" parking areas where bikes cannot be left are marked on the Voi app with red circles - but you may have to enlarge the map to make them visible | Voi

However, you can avoid this by entering your destination on the app and checking the nearest parking area does not have a red circle, which means it’s full. You may need to enlarge the map to make that visible.

One final tip - carry a cloth in case you need to dry the saddle and phone charging clip.

The last thing you want to spoil your riding enjoyment is a wet bum.