Santander Cycles will be boosted by an electric motor on some models
(Picture: PA)E-bikes will be added to the Santander Cycles offering in London from Monday, Transport for London has confirmed.
The traditional pedal-power “Boris bikes” will be unavailable from 8pm on Friday until 6am on Monday as the upgrades are made.
Transport for London tweeted: “During this period, cycles that have already been hired may be returned, but no new hires will be possible.”
Five hundred e-bikes will be added to the fleet, which will contain a mixture of electric aided and standard bikes. The move will bring Santander Cycles in line with newer upstarts such as Lime, which offer the power boost as a standard.
Riders will have the option of the traditional or e-bike at the docking stations.
There will also be a new tariff system introduced, with the £2 daily access charge replaced with a £1.65 flat rate per 30-minute ride - a price that matches the bus fare.
A monthly membership will also be introduced, costing £20 per month, allowing customers to make unlimited 60-minute rides.
Annual members will also get unlimited 60-minute rides, double the length of the unlimited 30-minute rides currently offered. The yearly membership will be £120.
Transport for London said in July the scheme recorded its busiest month in its history, with more than 1.3 million hires across the month.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I am delighted to be launching our first ever e-bikes for hire.
“Another first for London hot on the heels of another record-breaking month for Santander Cycles, which saw an incredible 1.3m journeys in July.
“It will be great to see these new e-bikes on London’s streets soon.”
