Greater Manchester’s Starling Bank Bike hire scheme has expanded with 300 new electric bikes, bringing the city-region’s e-bike fleet to 50% of total available bikes.
The expansion supports Greater Manchester’s goal of adding one million more sustainable journeys daily by 2040.
These new e-bikes feature integrated batteries in lighter frames, automatic gearing, rear-wheel locking systems, and larger front baskets. E-bikes are ridden twice as often and for longer distances than standard pedal bikes.
Since launching in 2024, the scheme has recorded over 1.23 million rides. April saw an average of 1,698 daily rides, with usage peaking in the final week at 15,492 rides – averaging 2,213 per day. The highest single-day usage reached 2,609 rides.
“Not only are the bikes lighter, but they have features that make them easier to ride, such as automatic gearing and the rear wheel locking system,” said Dame Sarah Storey, Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner. “The bigger front basket is also very useful and they will be a popular addition to the scheme.”
Officials are exploring how to fully integrate the bike scheme into the region’s Bee Network – Greater Manchester’s connected public transport system – including its fare structure and app.
Bikes can be hired through the Starling Bank Bike app with various pricing options. The ‘pay as you ride’ model charges £1 to unlock e-bikes plus 10p per minute, while pedal bikes cost 50p to unlock plus 5p per minute. Regular users can purchase minute bundles at 5p per minute for both bike types, with no unlock fee for pedal bikes and a £1 fee for e-bikes.
Michele Rousseau, Chief Marketing Officer at Starling Bank, said: “We’ve supported more than a million rides since launching Starling Bank Bikes in 2024, and with half of our fleet now electric, we’re taking another step forward in promoting sustainable travel across Greater Manchester.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for low-emission, active travel options across UK cities. The Starling Bank Bike scheme is becoming an essential component of Greater Manchester’s transition toward greener, more accessible transportation.
