Santander Cycles 4+

Transport for London

TfL

    • 3.9 • 9.2K Ratings
    • Free

iPhone Screenshots

Description

Santander Cycles is the self-service, bike-sharing scheme for short journeys in inner London.

The official Santander Cycles app from Transport for London is the only app to send bike release codes straight to your smartphone. So you can skip past the docking station terminal and get on your bike quicker.

Simply register with your bank card, and use the app to ‘Hire now’ from a nearby docking station. Follow the instructions to get your bike release code. Tap the code into the docking point and you’re good to go!

You can also:
• See up-to-the-minute information about which docking stations have bikes and spaces available
• Plan a journey with an easy to follow map
• Receive notifications – for example, summarising the cost at the end of your hire
• View your recent journeys and charges
• Save your favourite docking stations
• Become a London Rider - complete challenges and hire cycles to earn entries into a weekly prize draw!

Each bike release code is valid for 10 minutes at your chosen docking station.

Please note the app doesn’t reserve bikes. If there are no bikes available at the docking station, don’t worry. Use the app to find a nearby docking station with bikes, and get another bike release code to use there. You won’t be charged until you use the release code.

You must be 18 or over to hire a bike, and 14 or over to ride one. For full Santander Cycles terms and conditions, see tfl.gov.uk/santandercycles

What’s New

Version 4.0.34

We’ve introduced a Day Pass. Unlimited single rides of up to 30 minutes within 24 hours for £3.

Ratings and Reviews

3.9 out of 5
9.2K Ratings

9.2K Ratings

London SE1 ,

Not up to scratch

You’d think after all these years and with so many users the developers would get the basics right! Had a very frustrating time signing up by the app which kept saying my payment was declined despite 5 x £90 being ring fenced in my bank account which then took over a week to clear. In the end I joined by phone.

Having been using the app on a daily basis for the last two weeks I’ve found it to be hit and miss - often when trying to hire a bike I get a message saying no internet connection when clearly there is. I see other reviewers have made the same point.

I’ve now got a key which is much quicker and easier to use - so will only resort to the app as a back up.

Lee_LTP ,

Unable to add my payment card

The app is great for telling you where the bikes are and availability, but for someone using Apple Pay and who doesn’t regularly carry a bank card, it’s absolutely dire. A few months ago my partner and I both had issues adding our cards and it took multiple attempts and 15-20 minutes to set up.
Today we tried to use them again and both of our cards had been reissued by the bank. We couldn’t add them and it actually said it was suspending my partner’s account. Needless to say neither of us were able to add our cards (although MasterCard debit wasn’t an option, maybe this was the reason??) we had to fall back to using the machine and a physical card. Luckily I had it with me, but what’s the point in the app/account if this is the case.
I don’t understand why they don’t incorporate Apple Pay save adding these details in a longwinded manner.
Also, why don’t the login details work in saved passwords on the iPhone? They’re certainly saved in but when you try to populate it in the app, in order to login automatically it doesn’t populate either fields and I had to copy the password, enter the email and then paste the password in (right after I reset my password not understanding why I couldn’t login/why it wasn’t pulling it through).
Sort out the payment function and it would be an easy app to use!!!
Also, what about a countdown timer for the app? How long you have left?

Scottish Londoner ,

Great app and excellent customer service

Have been using the app and bikes for about 18 months. The bikes are a great facility to have in London, basically turn up and go, no stress about carrying padlocks or dealing with punctures and maintenance. The bikes are a bit heavy but very robust. The app is good — could be slightly better with notifications, journey tracking, etc, but considering the number of bikes and the diverse locations, it is VG. The app recently went awry after I upgraded to ios 14.8 but after reporting it to the customer service team, I got a quick email response recommending a reinstall, which fixed things, plus a friendly follow-up call a few days later. Couldn’t fault the team behind everything. Thank you :-)

Developer Response ,

Hi there! Thanks soooo much for your positive vibes and kind words about our app! I'm so pleased to hear your getting on much better with the app after you called our team! I agree cycling is the way to go! Enjoy! Sadia

App Privacy

The developer, TfL, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

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