Elgin gains seven places to pick up a shared electric bike

Getting from the train station to college or across town now comes with another option in Elgin. The Moray town has joined the HI-BIKE electric cycle hire network, with seven pickup locations.

The service already operates in Inverness and Fort William. According to transport partnership HITRANS, those schemes recorded 33,000 journeys last year.

Riders unlock a bike through an app and return it to a docking station. The operator’s current guidance lists Elgin railway station, UHI Moray College and Cooper Park among the locations, with stations available around the clock.

A single ride costs £3 for the first 30 minutes. That matters when comparing options: longer use can incur extra charges, and the app is needed to hire.

Keeping shared bikes available has also taken work. Earlier vandalism disrupted the Highland service, prompting changes including smaller baskets.

The expansion does not yet show how many car journeys Elgin will replace. It does put a practical alternative within reach: a bike with a little help on the hills, without needing to own or store one.

Sources

• BBC — Elgin expansion, past use and maintenance challenges
• HI-BIKE — current locations, prices and docking instructions