Brompton has kickstarted a new hire system to get your hands on one of its trademark folding bikes for the daily commute for as little as £1 a day. There’s no defined rental period – you’ll be able to hold onto the bike for as long as you need it.
As part of the subscription, which doesn’t require a deposit, you’ll also benefit from insurance to cover theft and damage, free maintenance, as well as a free loan bike from Brompton if any repairs on your rental need to be made. Subscription holidays can also be taken for pregnancy, health issues, or as a result of a change in employment status – so, if your workplace decides that you’ll be working from home, you can press pause on your bike subscription.
Brompton Bike Hire will start to roll out from “late Summer,” the British designed folding bike firm says. However, you can already sign-up for its Priority Access list to reserve a spot first in line ready for the launch of the scheme.
When the scheme kickstarts, you’ll be able to sign-up for an annual subscription at the cost of £30 a month, or a rolling month-by-month contract at a cost of £42 a month. The latter is ideal if you only plan to use the bike to commute during the warm summer months. Once subscribed, you’ll only need to pick-up your Brompton from any of the Brompton hubs nationwide. Brompton bikes typically cost some £1,000 to buy outright, and roughly £800 to buy second-hand in good condition.
Brompton’s new subscription service is an extension to its existing bike hire arm, which allows people to rent a Brompton Boris Bike-style for £6.50 a day. If you pay a £25 annual fee, that daily price falls to £3.50. The new addition is much, much more affordable – as long as you plan to use the Brompton regularly.
At launch, Brompton bikes with three gears will be available. However, the firm plans to introduce its models with electric motors to help boost your pedalling in the coming months after the launch of the scheme, Brompton told us.
Brompton Bike Hire Managing Director Julian Scrivens said: “There is a significant shift towards cycling now more than ever, but not everyone wants to or can afford to buy a bike outright. Our pay-as-you-ride schemes are already enormously popular, but we wanted to give the public another option which allows them to keep a bike for longer periods.
“This new Subscription service will revolutionise the way people own a bike, giving them a premium product without the upfront price tag. It’s an option to make everyone’s life easier, whether you’re a commuter, student, family or just want to cycle on the weekends but don’t want to commit or have the space to own a bike forever.”
The Brompton Subscription monthly and annual options will also be available as an option for businesses looking to help their staff get back to work safely as it undercuts existing Cycle to Work schemes, which can cost on average £56 per month for a premium bike (worth £1,000).
Brompton Bike Hire already lets users hire bikes on a daily basis from its 50 or more pay-as-you-ride hubs nationwide. It was praised during lockdown for its Wheels for Heroes initiative, enabling NHS workers to hire bikes for free during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Priority Access for the Brompton Subscription service is open now at BromptonSubscription.com.