Just Eat Cycles reveals plans to extend network 

Edinburgh’s new cycle hire scheme, Just Eat Cycles, has unveiled plans to introduce 20 new hire points across the city by the end of 2018 as it builds the network to meet growing user demand.

Plans for city-wide growth will see 17 virtual cycle hire points and three docked hire points introduced in the run up to Hogmanay, including a number in the west and south of the city centre for the first time.

The capital’s first cycle hire scheme launched in September with an initial 200 bikes spread across 24 hire points. It has already grown to 320 bikes across 31 hire points.

Since day one the scheme’s operators have gathered feedback from users and the general public as well as consulting with the council, universities and private landowners in order to build the most suitable network.

Virtual Cycle Hire Points – to be rolled out by the end of 2018:

• Dalry Road (Lidl)
• Gibson Terrace
• Bainfield Drive
• Dundee Terrace
• Morningside Park
• Colinton Road
• Marchmont Crescent
• Warrander Park Road
• Meadow Place
• Thirlestane Road
• Whitehouse Loan
• Simon Square
• Lutton Place
• South Trinity Road / Ferry Road
• Summer Place / Inverleith Terrace
• East London Street
• Macdonald Road
• Leith Walk (Dalmeny street)

Docked Cycle Hire Points – to be rolled out in 2018

• Victoria Park (replacement cycle hire point)
• Bio-quarter
• Castle Terrace

An additional 30 virtual hire points will be in place by the end of January 2019, weather permitting. These will be located in areas including Saughton, Morningside, Leith, Newington and Marchmont.

Additional bikes will be introduced to coincide with the opening of new hire points, with a total of 500 bikes expected to be in place by the end of the year. Next year will also see the introduction of hireable electric bikes.

Transport for Edinburgh Chief Executive George Lowder MBE, said: “This roll out strategy will bring a number of areas into the scheme’s network for the first time, not only helping users make the journey’s they want to, but will encourage more people to use the scheme to complement the modes of transport they already use. We are extremely grateful for 187 suggestions put forward so far for new cycle hire points via the website. All of these sites are being considered as part of our ongoing network planning.”

As part of a Black Friday sale, from Friday 23 November to Sunday 25 November, annual passes will be available to purchase via the app or online for only £45 (normally £90) – working out at 12p a day for a year’s unlimited access to the scheme.

Charles Graham, General Manager of Just Eat Cycles, said: “As the scheme begins to expand into areas where demand is growing, now is an ideal time to secure an annual pass and begin using the scheme to explore or access different areas of Edinburgh on two wheels.”

Users can pick up a bike through an annual membership or on a daily basis, using the free smartphone app. Bikes can be returned to any cycle hire point at any time, with the closest available stations shown in the app.

The scheme uses a pricing structure that allows users to make multiple one hour journeys in a 24 hour window from as little as £3 for a day pass.

The cycle scheme uses innovative technology including the unique hybrid lock provided by Urban Sharing the operators of cycle hire schemes in Oslo Trondheim and Bergen.

Users can visit the Just Eat Cycles website or download the app to find out more about the network