Huge upgrades for Santander Cycles – including in-dock charging and a new app
Santander Cycles are set for major upgrades next year, including in-dock charging for electric bikes, a new mobile app, and other changes aimed at making the service easier to use.
Transport for London (TfL) announced that it has awarded a contract to Serco, the cycle hire operator, that will see it continue operating the scheme until 2031, with the option to extend this contract for a further five years.
Under this renewed contract, the scheme is set for major upgrade that will ensure it keeps pace with the growing adoption of rental e-bikes in London.
Santander Cycles will begin to introduce in-dock charging for e-bikes across docking terminals from 2031, which will greatly improve the rider experience by ensuring that electric bicycles are always charged and ready to use.
TfL also said that the docking terminals would be modernised to make the process of hiring a bike easier and more user-friendly through the introduction of a new QR Code-based bike release system.
These improvements will come alongside the launch of a brand-new Santander Cycles mobile app, which will feature a modernised interface and will be designed for accessibility and to make the hiring experience as painless as possible.
The fleet of Santander Cycles bicycles and their docking infrastructure has been upgraded substantially over the past few years and has seen increasing adoption as it rolls out more e-bikes across its fleet.
Currently, the fleet has almost 2,000 e-bikes active, with plans to introduce more in future.
More than 109 million hires have been made using the scheme since 2015, of which 3.1 million have been e-bike hires.
TfL also said that it continues to work with boroughs and dockless bike scheme companies like Lime to introduce clear standards for operators and improve supporting infrastructure, such as dedicated parking for dockless rental bicycles.
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said:
“London’s boom in cycling shows no sign of slowing down, so it’s great to see further investment in improvements to the Santander Cycles scheme including the in-dock charging for e-bikes and a new, easier-to-use app,” said London Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman.
“Following a record number of Santander Cycles member hires in October 2025 and soaring numbers of bike trips across the capital, the Mayor and I will keep investing in sustainable and accessible transport options as we continue to create a greener, fairer, better London for everyone.”
