The service, delivered by Beryl in partnership with Leeds City Council, is set to become far more accessible.
Effective from Friday 16th February, users of Leeds City Bikes can now save money by paying for journeys up to a year in advance through the Minute Bundle offer, available within the Beryl app.
When bought in this way, users can enjoy 100 minutes of travel for £16 and see their £1 unlock fee waived each time they ride. Accumulative minutes can be ‘spent’ at any time within 12 months of the initial purchase, increasing overall flexibility.
The digital payment upgrade will sit alongside existing options such as Pay As You Ride, Flexi, Commuter and Day Passes. The development is in direct response to user surveys, with the most recent Beryl Annual Rider Report revealing that 96% of those using the service said convenience was of high importance, while 92% felt cost was a major factor in the decision to open an account.
‘We know pricing is important, now more than ever as we navigate the cost of living crisis together,’ said Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire. ‘We said we would continue to look at ways of bringing down the cost of hiring an e-bike, so I’m pleased people can access this latest offer, which builds on the student discount we’ve launched in recent weeks.
‘Introducing an e-bike hire scheme is just one part of our work to create a better-connected region – they’re a great way to help us get around, boost our health and do our bit for the environment,’ she continued
With £2.86million spent on Leeds City Bikes so far, the pressure is on to attract high numbers of riders, although current figures point to strong uptake. Since launching in 2023, the bike hire services has facilitated 13,000 individual journeys, covering almost 36,000Km. At the time of writing, 200 bikes are available through 20 individually located bays.
‘By introducing the Leeds City Bikes scheme we considered the wider picture of how people travel, how they integrate and access different transport modes, and encourage people to choose the most suitable mode for their journey and fulfil our ambition of Leeds as a city where you don’t need to own a car,’ said Cllr Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council Executive Member for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure. ‘We want Leeds City Bikes to be accessible for as many people as possible and by introducing a flexible, affordable minute bundle, we hope it will open up more transport options for residents and visitors of Leeds city centre.’
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Image: Beryl / Leeds City Council