Getting around is about to become a little easier, and a lot greener, as a new fleet of electric bicycles arrives in Sketty.
Swansea has welcomed a new fleet of electric bicycles as part of a city-wide rental scheme aimed at making shorter journeys easier, cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
The Council has partnered with Swedish transport company Voi Technology to introduce the scheme, making Swansea the first place in Wales to offer a dockless e-bike service.
The first 70 bicycles are being introduced from the week commencing 26 October, initially covering Swansea University campuses, the city centre and key transport hubs, including Sketty. The fleet will gradually expand over the coming months, with 500 bicycles expected to be available across Swansea within the first year.
The distinctive orange bicycles can be hired through the Voi smartphone app, which allows users to locate their nearest available bike, unlock it and pay for their journey. Unlike traditional bicycle hire schemes, the bikes do not need to be returned to docking stations, although riders must finish their journeys in designated parking areas.
Hiring a bicycle normally costs 50p to unlock, followed by 20p per minute. However, the unlocking fee has been waived for the first six months, and new customers will receive their first three 15-minute rides free of charge.
Significantly cheaper day, weekly and monthly passes will also be available, with discounted rates offered to students, NHS workers, military personnel, disabled people, those aged over 60 and people on lower incomes.
The bicycles provide electric assistance as the rider pedals, something likely to be particularly welcome in a city hardly known for its flat roads. The service will operate 24 hours a day, with users able to check the locations of available bicycles through the app.
Councillor Andrew Stevens, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, welcomed the launch.
"It has long been our ambition to have a Swansea-wide e-bike scheme and I'm delighted that we are partnering with Voi," he said.
"Similar schemes around the UK have quickly become very well used, offering a new form of public transport and providing a convenient and sustainable travel option for everyday short journeys."
Councillor Rebecca Fogarty, Cabinet Member for Community, said affordability had been an important consideration in selecting Voi, particularly the availability of discounted passes for regular users and those on lower incomes.
The scheme is also expected to bring employment opportunities to Swansea, creating 18 jobs alongside apprenticeships in sustainable transport operations. Voi says the bicycles will be powered using 100% renewable energy and supported by a zero-emission operations fleet.
James Bolton, Voi's UK General Manager, said the company was delighted to be launching in Swansea and hoped the service would offer residents a flexible alternative to using their cars for everyday journeys.
The scheme will initially focus on connecting the city's universities, transport hubs and popular destinations, with further expansion planned as more bicycles become available.
Residents interested in trying the new service can download the Voi app, where they can find available bicycles, check rental prices and see where riding and parking are permitted.
Here’s an FAQ based on our most recent Facebook comments.
Can people just leave the bikes wherever they like?
No. Although the scheme is dockless, meaning there aren't traditional docking stations, riders must finish their journeys within permitted blue areas shown in the Voi app and use designated parking spots. Bikes must be left upright and must not obstruct pavements, entrances or access ramps.
What happens if somebody dumps one somewhere they shouldn't?
The bikes are GPS-tracked, so Voi can monitor their locations. They have operational teams responsible for relocating incorrectly parked bikes, collecting damaged ones and maintaining the fleet.
Riders are also required to photograph their parked bike at the end of their journey. Voi can issue a £25 charge for breaches of its parking rules and suspend accounts where necessary.
How can I report an abandoned or damaged bike?
You can report a bike directly to Voi at https://report.voi.com.
It's helpful to include the exact location, a photograph and the bike's identification number if you can see it. You can also report dangerous riding.
How do they recharge the bikes without docking stations?
They have removable batteries! Voi can monitor battery levels remotely, and its maintenance teams replace depleted batteries with fully charged ones. The flat batteries are taken away to be recharged, so there's no need to plug the entire bicycle in.
How much does it cost?
The standard rate is 20p per minute, with the usual 50p unlocking fee waived for the first six months.
That works out at £3 for 15 minutes, £6 for half an hour or £12 for an hour.
However, buying minutes in advance is considerably cheaper. These are the prepaid options currently shown in the Swansea app:
30 minutes – £3.99 (valid for 1 day)
60 minutes – £4.99 (valid for 3 days)
90 minutes – £6.99 (valid for 7 days)
300 minutes – £19.99 (valid for 30 days)
These are bundles of riding minutes, not unlimited passes, and the minutes can be used across multiple journeys within their validity period.
New customers are also being offered their first three 15-minute rides free.
Are there discounts for older or disabled people?
Yes, discounts have been announced for people aged over 60, disabled people, those on low incomes, NHS workers, military personnel and students.
However, some people have reported being unable to access these discounts in the app yet. Voi recommends going to Menu → Help → Chat with us to enquire about eligibility and applying.
As the Swansea scheme has only just launched, I haven't been able to establish whether every discount is operational yet.
Can anybody ride one?
You must be at least 16 years old to hire a Voi e-bike. You'll need the Voi app and an account to locate and unlock one.
The bikes are intended for one rider only. Carrying passengers, including children in the front basket, is strictly prohibited.
Are e-bikes actually legal?
Yes! Road-legal electric bicycles have been permitted in the UK for decades.
They must comply with certain regulations, including a maximum continuous motor output of 250 watts and electrical assistance cutting out at 15.5mph.
You don't need a driving licence, insurance or road tax to ride a compliant e-bike. Police enforcement is generally directed at illegally modified bikes or those being ridden unlawfully, rather than ordinary privately owned e-bikes.
Do they actually help you get up Swansea's hills?
Absolutely. The motor provides assistance while you pedal, which can make climbing hills considerably easier than on a traditional bicycle.
You'll still need to pedal, particularly on steeper climbs, but you shouldn't have to work nearly as hard.
What happens if somebody steals a bike or its battery?
Voi records rental activity and monitors the locations of its bikes, which can help investigations.
Battery theft has been a problem in other cities. In Liverpool, Voi worked with Merseyside Police to investigate a substantial number of battery thefts, leading to arrests and prison sentences.
This doesn't mean every theft can automatically be traced to an individual, but there are measures in place to investigate incidents.
Are riders covered by public liability insurance?
No. Voi's current UK terms confirm that third-party liability insurance isn't included for e-bike riders. Anyone wanting insurance against personal liability for injury or damage caused to others would need to arrange suitable cover independently.
How many bikes will there be?
The scheme launched with 70 bikes across Swansea, including the university campuses, city centre and transport hubs.
The plan is to increase the fleet gradually to 500 bikes within the first year.
The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Hopefully that clears up a few things!
It's a new scheme, so there will undoubtedly be a few teething problems. Concerns about poor parking, damaged bikes and irresponsible riding are perfectly reasonable, and it'll be important for Voi to address them properly.
That said, it's nice to see another transport option available locally, particularly for shorter journeys around Swansea.
