Highland e-bike scheme expanded into Moray

An electric bike hire scheme in the Highlands has been expanded to Elgin in Moray.

Hi-Bike already runs in Inverness and Fort William and operator Hitrans said more than 33,000 journeys were made last year.

The e-bikes are unlocked using a mobile app, with single rides starting at £3 and £8 for a day pass.

Moray councillor Amber Dunbar said the scheme would offer residents and visitors to Elgin a "practical, affordable and sustainable" way to travel around the town.

The bikes will be located at seven locations in Elgin including the railway station and UHI Moray College.

There are plans to have bikes at Dr Grays Hospital and the leisure centre in the future.

Monthly student memberships will also be made available to encourage more active travel and reduce car usage.

Recently there has been a large increase in e-bike rental schemes being established across Scotland, including in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Hi-Bikes was launched in Inverness in 2021 before being expanded to Fort William in 2022.

But the scheme was suspended for a short period in 2024, after sustained vandalism of the bikes led to a £100,000 maintenance bill.

Hitrans has since adapted the bikes, including reducing the size of the front baskets to discourage "joyriding".

Director Ranald Robertson welcomed the arrival of the bikes in Elgin.

He said: "The bikes have proven to be extremely popular in Inverness and Fort William due to them being a convenient mode of transport which is also healthy for users and good for the environment.

"I am sure they will be equally popular in Elgin by benefiting transport integration and consumer choice."