Rent a bike

Getting started is easy. Simply hire a bike, ride it, then return it to any docking station.

All you need to do is rent, ride and return.

Ride safely on your journey - see our cycle safety tips.

Rent

Choose from 3 different options for hiring a bike:

Santander Cycles app

Use the Santander Cycles app to avoid any docking station queues.

Select 'Hire now' for your docking station of choice and get a bike release code direct to your phone
E-bikes can be found on the app with a little lightning symbol

Hire from the terminal

Turn up and go. You can use our touch screen to hire pedal bikes.

Choose 'Hire a cycle', follow the on-screen instructions and take the printed release code
Pay with debit or credit card. You cannot use contactless devices such as phones or watches
You can hire up to 4 bikes at the same time. You will not be able to hire an e-bike

Buy a membership key - your subscription on a key

Buy a £3 membership key by calling us on 0343 222 6666 (call charges may apply)
Register the key online in your account preferences
Put the key into the docking point next to any available bike without a red light. and release. The key will work at any docking station. The key will work at any docking station

Ride

Choose your bike and check the tyres, brakes and bell
Our e-bikes have a pedal assist up to 25kph to help you get to your destinations faster and fresher. Simply start pedalling and the pedal assist will kick in
Type your release code into the docking point's keypad and pull the bike out when the green light appears
Adjust the saddle height and you're good to go
The bikes have lights that come on automatically when you start pedalling

Return

Push the bike firmly into any empty docking point
Wait for the green light to show that the bike is securely docked (otherwise we'll keeping charging you for your journey)
If you don't get a green light, call us on 0343 222 6666 (charges may apply)
If the docking station is full, choose 'No docking point free' at the terminal and follow the on-screen directions to get an extra 15 minutes included
To find a nearby space if the docking station is full, choose 'Status of nearest docking station' at the terminal
Faulty bike? If the bike is unsafe to ride, let us know it needs repairing by pressing the 'Fault' button on the docking point within 10 seconds of docking it. Turn the saddle backwards to show others that it needs to be repaired