Edinburgh is preparing to roll out a new cycle hire scheme later this summer, though with just weeks to go, the City of Edinburgh Council has yet to confirm who will run it.
The pilot scheme, expected to launch from the week of 18 August, will see a small fleet of dockless electric bikes hit the capital’s streets. The trial coincides with the peak of the city’s summer festivals, which draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city centre each year.
Two established micro-mobility providers, Dott and Lime, are understood to be in contention to operate the scheme. However, with the tender remaining open until 1 August, no contract has yet been awarded.
Despite the delay, the city’s transport convener, Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, insisted plans remain on track.
“Our initial target was to launch the trial cycle hire scheme during the month of August, and I remain confident that we’ll deliver this,” he said.
“We’re actively working to finalise arrangements and remain committed to making the scheme operational as soon as possible.”
This will be Edinburgh’s first public cycle hire scheme in four years, following the collapse of the previous Serco-run service in 2021. That scheme, sponsored by Just Eat, struggled with widespread vandalism, bike theft and maintenance issues, including repeated incidents of bikes being dumped in waterways.
The new scheme will adopt a dockless model, meaning bikes can be picked up and parked without the need for fixed stations. Any bikes parked irresponsibly will be collected by the council, with the future operator expected to pay a fee for each retrieval — a model similar to London, where Lime is already active and operators are charged £235 per recovery. Edinburgh’s fee is yet to be confirmed.
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Scottish Greens councillor Chas Booth welcomed the progress but cautioned that lessons from the past must be heeded.
“It’s essential that any scheme meets the needs of the whole city, including residents on low incomes and those living outside the city centre,” he said.
“The operator must also address previous failings around vandalism and theft if this is to become a lasting, sustainable part of Edinburgh’s transport network.”
An announcement on the successful operator is expected shortly after the 1 August deadline. If all goes to plan, the trial could pave the way for a permanent hire scheme to return to the capital.
