2,500 bikes could hit city streets as part of “safer” hire scheme

Electric bikes could be available across Cardiff in 2026 Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Cardiff residents will soon be able to access a cycle hire scheme throughout the city - around three years after the last one was discontinued.

Cardiff Council has confirmed plans to launch a new electric cycle hire initiative in Spring 2026.

While the council will cover the cost of installing painted parking bays, a private company will be responsible for the funding and day-to-day costs.

The council has spoken to cycle hire operators across the UK and Europe and up to 2,500 e-bikes could be rolled out across the city.

The new scheme comes after the Nextbike programme, which launched in 2018 with 50 pedal bikes and ultimately expanded to over 1,000 pedal bikes across 90 docking stations along with e-bikes.

Despite being popular - there were over two million rides during the scheme’s five year run - issues arose with vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

In 2021, 300 stolen bikes and 260 instances of vandalism were reported before the scheme was temporarily suspended and the contract was terminated early in 2023.

Labour Cllr Dan De’Ath, cabinet member for climate change, strategic planning and transport, said that the new scheme will be “safer, smarter, and more secure”.

This time, all bikes will be electric which are “more robust, less likely to be vandalised, and require less maintenance” according to council documents.

Bikes will also be equipped with GPS tracking to help recover bikes if they are moved or stolen while not in use and parked in designated “geo-fenced” areas — virtual zones that ensure bikes can only be left in approved locations.

Cllr De’Ath, who represents Plasnewydd ward, continued: “This is a great example of how we can deliver better services for residents without extra cost to the Council. We’ve listened, we’ve learned, and we’re ready to get Cardiff cycling again.”

The scheme will also help the council reach a goal to double the number of cycle trips by 2030 as Sustrans data shows that the number of people cycling has decreased since 2021.

E-scooters could be added to the fleet in the future, dependents on an additional council decision and wider guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT) on their use.

Neighbouring councils in the Vale of Glamorgan and Newport have also expressed interest in joining the scheme, which could lead to a wider regional network.

The report was scrutinised by the Environmental Scrutiny Committee on July 3 and will be presented to Cardiff Council’s Cabinet at its meeting on July 10.