Santander has agreed to sponsor London’s bike hire scheme for a further three years, taking its association with the scheme to at least 2025.
The bank replaced Barclays as sponsor in 2015 in a seven year deal which saw increased investment in promoting the scheme, the introduction of new lights to make night time cycling safer, and new, lighter bikes.
The extended deal will support Transport for London’s ambitions to expand the scheme’s coverage and the introduction of e-bikes which it’s hoped will encourage more people to take up cycling.
Other modernisation plans include updates to the Santander Cycles app, cycle hire terminals and back office systems which TfL says will bring “even greater flexibility for customers.”
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Cycling has been a lifeline for many Londoners over the past year and I’m determined to make it even more accessible to help us rebuild as a cleaner and greener city.
“Santander Cycle hire is key to this, so I’m delighted that TfL will be rolling out the scheme’s first e-bikes in summer next year and expanding it to cover new parts of our city thanks to Santander’s continued support.”
Nathan Bostock, CEO of Santander UK, added: “Since our partnership with TfL began in 2015, Santander Cycles has continued to thrive and is a great example of our commitment to supporting the communities in which we operate.
“Over the years we have worked hard to ensure Santander Cycles plays an important part in keeping communities connected and mobile in a healthy, sustainable and affordable way.
“From the creation of the hire app, the installation of the green safety Beryl Laserlights, to the introduction of contactless payment systems, we are proud to have brought innovation to the scheme and crucially helped people and businesses prosper along the way.
“We look forward to working together with TfL on the exciting plans we have for the fantastic scheme over the coming years.”
Andy Byford, TfL’s Commissioner, said: “Our popular cycle hire scheme has gone from strength to strength thanks to five successful years of partnership with Santander.
“Santander Cycles have been at the heart of a cycling revolution in the capital and we look forward to expanding, electrifying and improving our offering with Santander, so even more Londoners and visitors can discover the benefits of cycling.”
