New £2.86m e-bike for hire scheme in Leeds has positive start

More than 1,600 trips have been made on the new e-bikes for hire in Leeds since they arrived in the city centre just over a week ago.

This first phase of the rollout this autumn will see up to 300 bikes at 40 docking locations across the city centre and along key routes to the south and north-west.  Further bikes will be delivered in 2024, with numbers doubling to 600 by spring.

Initial uptake of the £2.86m scheme has been positive, with more than 1,200 users covering 375km in the first week. 

The figures have been released following an official celebration to mark the launch of Leeds City Bikes on Saturday 23rd September. People were invited to join a series of free led rides on Leeds’ growing cycling network, with more than 10km of segregated lanes in the city centre.

Leeds City Bikes is a fully electric public bike hire service delivered by Beryl in partnership with Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.  

Phil Ellis, CEO of Beryl, said: “The e-bikes are not only convenient, simple to use and fun, they can also save you a lot of money compared to private vehicle use, removing the costs associated with fuel, parking, tax, maintenance, storage, parking, MOT and insurance.”

Cllr Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “We want our city to be one that provides a full and comprehensive transport network and an e-bike scheme is a crucial part of that - offering quick and sustainable journeys across the city centre. We want Leeds to be a city where you don’t need to own a car and a key part of that is expanding and supporting our cycling network.”

The £2.86m scheme has been made possible thanks to funding secured through the West Yorkshire Mayoral devolution deal.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, added: “It’s been wonderful to see people using the e-bikes this week and I’m looking forward to seeing even more over the coming weeks and months.”