UniCycles

UniCycles is the University of Edinburgh’s student e-bike hire scheme

December 2024 update

Existing hirers have been contacted about renewing for Semester 2.

New hirers will be able to hire any remaining bikes from January 2025. If you would like to hear when more bikes become available, please join the waiting list.

Join the waiting list.

Students living at either Pollock Halls or Pentland House are invited to join UniCycles - the hassle-free and affordable way to start enjoying the convenience of cycling in Edinburgh.

We have only 70 electric bikes available to hire, so you will need sign up quickly if you want to secure yourself one.

unicycles logo

How it works

  1. You pay a £100 deposit when you sign up. This deposit will be refunded when you return the bike.
  2. You pay a £30 hire charge for each 3-month hire period. This is non-refundable, and goes towards the cost of administrating the scheme and maintaining the bikes.
  3. You get your own electric bike to use for a 3-month period. You will be able renew your hire at the end of the 3-month period, or return the bike if you are only visiting for one semester.
  4. There are charging points located in allocated bike stores at Pollock Halls and Pentland House where you can recharge the battery.
  5. If you have any mechanical problems, we have a maintenance provider who you can contact to get support.
  6. That's it! You can use the bike for commuting to classes, running errands, or for leisure - whatever you fancy.

The bike

The bikes are electric bikes made by British bicycle manufacturer Pashley. They have an electric motor system that provides assistance when you pedal. They were previously used in the Edinburgh City Cycle Hire scheme, and have undergone a comprehensive refurbishment.

The bikes are one-size-fits-all. Each bike has an adjustable seat post, and is suitable for a wide range of heights. However, if you are shorter than 5ft2 / 157cm, you might find the bike is a little big. You are welcome to try it out, and we are happy to refund you if you find you cannot comfortably ride it.

Photo of UniCycles electric bike

How to join

Due to the charging infrastructure required to operate the scheme, UniCycles are only available to students living at Pollock Halls of Residence or Pentland House. We are sorry if this means you cannot take part.

With only 70 bikes available,  you need to act quickly if you want to hire one of our fantastic bikes.

We strongly recommend you read the UniCycles Hire Agreement before you join. You will be asked to sign the Hire Agreement when you collect your bike.


We have a limited stock of the bikes. To secure a bike you should pay for a £100 refundable deposit and a £30 hire fee, using ePay (the University of Edinburgh's online shop). Add the deposit and hire fee to your basket, then check out. Note that the deposits are different products depending on where you live; this is to help us control stock levels.

  • Links to ePay products will be added here for new hirers to purchase in January

Please note you may only pay by credit or debit card. Important: Deposits can only be refunded to the same card used to purchase it. Please use a card that you are sure you will still have when your hire ends.


We will contact you to arrange a time for you to collect your bike from your Halls of Residence and receive an induction into its usage. You will also sign your hire agreement at the same time. We will email you with information on exactly when and where to collect your bike.


Although there is no legal requirement to wear a helmet whilst riding a bike in the UK, it is still recommended. Furthermore, the insurance provider for the UniCycles hire scheme requires you do wear a helmet. Therefore, we will not hire a bike to you unless you have a helmet. You can either buy your own and bring it with you when you collect your bike, or you can buy one from us using the links below and collect it at the same time as your bike:

We sell basic helmets for £22. This is the cost we buy them for, and we do not make a profit on them.


 

Questions?

Please contact us with any questions or issues regarding this scheme at unicycles@ed.ac.uk.

Cycling is a really convenient option for travelling from Pollock Halls to the main University sites. Here are some journey times to compare for cycling, walking or taking the bus:

  • To King’s Buildings: cycling 10 minutes; walking 30 minutes; bus & walk 25 minutes
  • To Central Area: cycling 6 minutes; walking 20 minutes; bus & walk 15 minutes
  • To the Medical School, BioQuarter: cycling 12 minutes; walking 45 minutes, bus 20 minutes

Pollock Halls is also conveniently located for access to the National Cycle Network Route 1. An off-road path, just a minute from Pollock Halls that takes you on an exciting journey through a former railway tunnel underneath one of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks, Arthur's Seat! You can follow the signposted path all the way to Edinburgh’s beach at Portobello, or keep going for an adventure into the surrounding beautiful countryside.

Route 1 also connects Pollock Halls with George Square via a sign posted on and off road route that takes in the beautiful park of the Edinburgh Meadows.


Cycling is a really convenient option for travelling from Pentland House to the main University sites. Here are some journey times to compare for cycling, walking or taking the bus:

  • To King’s Buildings: cycling 24 minutes; walking 75 minutes; bus 35 minutes
  • To Central Area: cycling 18 minutes; walking 60 minutes; bus 35 minutes
  • To the Medical School, BioQuarter: cycling 35 minutes; walking 100 minutes; bus 50 minutes

Pentland House is located near to the Union Canal, which offers a traffic free route all the way to the city centre. If you follow it in the other direction, you eventually reach Glasgow! It is also close to the Water of Leith. This is a quiet riverside path which makes for lovely weekend leisure rides.


 

UniCycles has been made possible by support from South East of Scotland Transport Partnership, City of Edinburgh Council, Energy Saving Trust Scotland, SP Energy Networks’ Green Economy Fund, and Transport for Edinburgh.

More information about cycling in Edinburgh

This article was published on