People travelling in Glasgow and Edinburgh will be able to access more than 1300 bikes located at nearly 200 docking stations for free hire in the cities, for the first 30 minutes of every journey.

It is hoped that the initiative will ease pressure on public transport as the economy continues to reopen and help ensure cycling plays an important role in Scotland’s ‘green recovery’ by offering an attractive alternative to private car journeys.

The offer runs for the next eight weeks in Glasgow, with free use extended to 60 minutes for existing subscribers. In Edinburgh, free bike sharing will be in place for two weeks, with access fees also waived for electric bikes.

The scheme is funded by Transport Scotland through the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme. Like many other UK cities, both Glasgow and Edinburgh have also created more cycle lane space in response to Coronavirus.

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure & Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “We’ve seen increased rates of cycling and increased use of our public hire bicycle schemes across the lockdown period and this offer will help maintain this shift in travel behaviour at a critical time in our Covid-19 response.
“By offering free 30 minute trips, in conjunction with temporary infrastructure in Glasgow and Edinburgh, we can greatly incentivise more sustainable everyday journeys.”

The initiative is being led by shared transport champion CoMoUK. The group’s Scotland director Lorna Finlayson said it will help ensure that everyone can benefit from investment in cycling capacity and infrastructure in the two cities.

“As bike share is accessible, affordable and flexible it can play an increasingly important role in Scotland’s green recovery by providing an alternative to private car journeys and helping to ease pressure on public transport,” she said.

Cycling group Sustrans Scotland’s national director John Lauder welcomed the news that Edinburgh and Glasgow are offering the first half an hour for free on their cycle hire schemes. “We are hugely supportive of bike hire schemes and their importance in normalising every day cycling and reducing traffic congestion in our towns and cities,” he said.

“Many people have discovered the benefits of cycling during lockdown. We hope that as people are heading back to workplaces or visiting friends that they will walk or cycle instead of driving.”

(Photograph: Ronnie Macdonald and licenced for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)