New electric bikes for Aberdeen were officially launched last week with some demonstrations for people in one of the city’s main parks.
They were among the first to try the new brightly-coloured Voi ebikes around Duthie Park which are being rolled out around the city.
Aberdeen City Council chief officer of strategic place planning David Dunne said: “It’s fantastic to see the new Voi ebikes launched in Aberdeen.
“It is good to give people another option for getting about the city and the electric-assisted Voi bikes will make it easier to cycle about, especially up hills.
“We look forward to seeing people enjoy using them particularly during the summer months.”
Harry Foskin, Senior Public Policy Manager at Voi, said: “We are delighted to have launched Voi ebikes in Aberdeen, our third launch in Scotland in the past year. We look forward to seeing residents and visitors alike making Voi’s safe, sustainable and affordable ebikes part of their everyday journeys in the Granite City.”
People can use the free-to-download Voi app to rent the ebikes. All riders can get their first ride for free by entering the code SCOTLAND in the app, which provides 15 minutes without charge.
Harry Foskin, Senior Public Policy Manager at Voi, and David Dunne, Chief Officer of Strategic Place Planning, Aberdeen City Council, at the launch of new Voi ebikes in Duthie Park, Aberdeen.
The ebikes are free to unlock for the first three months, with the pay-as-you-go tariff £0.18 per minute. Aberdeen residents will also be able to hire a Voi ebike for 20 minutes for just £1.75, making cross-city journeys even more affordable for everyone.
The minimum age for hiring an ebike is 16 years old. More information on usage is available at https://voi.com/blog/aberdeen-your-e-bikes-are-here
People using the new ebikes are reminded:
- Road safety is everyone’s responsibility;
- Always wear a helmet when using the ebikes;
- Follow the Highway Code;
- Keep your eyes on the road and do not use your phone;
- Make sure you can hear so do not wear earphones or play loud music.
The fleet of coral-coloured ebikes will consist of two types of ebike:
- Explorer 4 – a full-size ebike, designed for commuter journeys with a heavier, more stable frame and larger wheels and;
- Explorer Light 1 – around 25% lighter, with a lower step-through frame and smaller wheels, making it easier to handle, more accessible for smaller or less confident riders and ideal for shorter city trips.
Voi already manages ebike hire schemes in Edinburgh and Glasgow and operates in more than 100 cities across Europe including London, Paris and Stockholm.