Sadiq Khan test-rides an electric Boris bike
(Picture: PA)Boris bikes are going electric under a new three-year sponsorship deal, it was announced on Friday.
London’s fleet of 14,000 hire bikes will be expanded to include about 500 e-bikes to encourage more people to ride.
The power-assisted bikes will be launched in summer 2022 and the geographical “footprint” of the scheme will be expanded.
City Hall said this would make cycling easier for people who struggle with their fitness, age or the length of their journey.
Locations for additional docking stations have yet to be determined but will be done in consultation with borough councils. TfL is aware of the under-provision of the bikes in south-east London.
A permanent discount for NHS workers will be introduced, after more than 100,000 free rides were offered during the pandemic.
Santander confirmed it would continue to sponsor the scheme for a further three years when its seven-year £51m deal runs out next year. The new deal is worth £6.25m a year - £18.75m in total.
Plans to add e-bikes to the fleet were first revealed by the Evening Standard last year.
The scheme was first introduced by then mayor Boris Johnson in 2010. More than 100 million hires of the bikes have since been made.
Mayor Sadiq Khan, who normally rides an electric Brompton bike, said: “Cycling has been a lifeline for many Londoners over the past year and I’m determined to make it even more accessible to help us rebuild as a cleaner and greener city.
“Santander Cycle hire is key to this, so I’m delighted that TfL will be rolling out the scheme’s first e-bikes in summer next year and expanding it to cover new parts of our city thanks to Santander’s continued support.”
