More freedom. Less pressure.
Challenge the incentive,
not the rider.
When every minute costs money,
there’s pressure to ride faster…
Shared e-bikes are a brilliant way to get around. Let’s make sure the way we pay gives us room to ride well.
A better way forward
01 / Keep the good
A bike when you need one. A hill made easier. A journey that doesn’t need a car.
Rental e-bikes open up cycling without the cost and storage of ownership. More everyday movement. Cleaner travel when they replace car journeys.[1]
We want shared e-bikes to thrive.
02 / Look at the incentive
When the fare rises each minute, finishing sooner costs less. Does that pressure change how we ride?
Could a different fare give riders more breathing room?
Illustration: £1 + 30p/min versus a £5.50 fare for up to 30 minutes. Hypothetical fares; no discounts or free minutes.
03 / Follow the evidence
In a bicycle simulator, 30 people aged 19–28 rode faster and accepted shorter traffic gaps when told they would pay per minute, compared with a private-bike condition.[2]
The limit: a small, young sample in a simulator. It supports concern, but cannot establish effects on real streets or prove that different fares reduce crashes.
Read the studyPricing · Checked 2 November 2026
Per-minute fares sit alongside free minutes, bundles and flat fares.
A bundle still has a minute budget. A flat fare may help, but a tight deadline can bring the pressure back.
04 / Build something better
Our ask to operators and policymakers:
test fares that give riders room.
Pilot journey fares, distance pricing or generous time allowances. Check for pressure at cut-off points.
Measure stress, riding behaviour and safety—alongside affordability, access and operator viability. Publish the findings.
Bring riders, operators, councils and researchers together. Keep shared e-bikes useful and accessible.
Sources and scope · Updated 2 November 2026
Review of e-cycling and car substitution. Health and environmental benefits depend on the journeys replaced.
Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 39, 102172. Simulator study of 30 young adults.
Local prices appear in the app. Hackney offer terms and Hackney Council’s cycle-hire guidance. Eligibility and time limits apply.
Help article updated 14 September 2026. Forest’s ways to ride. Check the app for current fares.
