Lyft Urban Solutions and Serco to deliver the next chapter of Santander Cycles in London, UK

Transport for London (TfL) has awarded Lyft Urban Solutions and Serco a new contract to deliver the next chapter of the Santander Cycles scheme. This 10-year,  £220 million agreement ensures London cyclists will benefit from the world's most advanced bikeshare technology, with key upgrades including a new mobile app, in-dock charging infrastructure, and a zero-emission operational fleet that will transform how millions experience sustainable urban mobility.

The cycling revolution is here—and London is leading it. Daily cycle journeys have reached 1.5 million in 2025, up 12.7% from 2024, and TfL is targeting 1.6 million by 2030 as part of its broader goal of having 80% of all journeys made on foot, by cycle, or by public transport by 2041.

Santander Cycles will play a critical role in closing that gap. Since ebikes were introduced in 2022, Londoners have taken 2.3 million ebike rides, demonstrating explosive demand that will only grow as this contract enables TfL to expand the ebike fleet. The momentum is undeniable: people want to ride, and they want technology that makes it effortless.

A system built for London's ambitions

Santander Cycles is the engine that powers London's growing cycling network, with 12,500 bikes—including 2,000 ebikes—across 820 stations spanning 120 km² of central London. Lyft provides the hardware and software. Serco handles design, build, and daily operations. This partnership will continue in the next chapter of the contract, setting the program up for continued growth and success.

"We're thrilled to deepen our partnership with Serco and Transport for London to bring cutting-edge micromobility technology to London's iconic bikeshare program," said Michael Brous, Head of Lyft Urban Solutions. "From our redesigned mobile app for riders, to in-dock charging infrastructure and modern payment terminals, this collaboration will deliver enhanced user experiences and operational efficiency for the growing number of Londoners who depend on bikeshare as a critical component of the transportation network."

“We are delighted to have been awarded this new contract that will see significant service improvements for TfL and the thousands of Londoners and visitors who use the bikes every day”, said Anthony Kirby, Serco Group Chief Executive. “I am extremely proud of the role Serco has played in the London bike scheme since 2010, making it a core part of London’s transport system and I believe this contract is a recognition of that success.  As part of our operation, we have committed to partner with TfL to help decarbonise London and we are supporting the Mayor’s transport strategy, under which 80% of all trips in London will be made by walking, cycling and public transport by 2041.” 

Driving the next chapter of Santander Cycles

This new contract between TfL, Lyft and Serco positions Santander Cycles to meet the growing demand for bikeshare head-on. Lyft and Serco will introduce transformative upgrades designed to make the system more intuitive, more efficient, and better aligned with the needs of today's urban cyclists. These include:

• A new, enhanced mobile app offering greater functionality and improved user experience.
  The rollout of new customer terminals at all docking stations, enabling convenient payment through mobile wallets like Apple Pay.
• A fully zero-emission operational fleet to support system logistics and bike redistribution.
  The introduction of docking points with in-dock-charging, allowing TfL to increase the number of ebikes in the fleet.
• A forward-looking roadmap to expand the scheme and support more Londoners in adopting cycling as a daily mode of transport.

The technology improvements that Lyft will provide align with Serco’s mission to enhance the customer experience and support London’s decarbonisation goals, while reflecting Lyft’s continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of what micromobility systems can offer.

A leading force in European bikeshare

Lyft and Serco have built a strong and reliable partnership over more than a decade, one that has consistently demonstrated its capacity to deliver complex systems at scale. With over 142 million rides since 2010 — and more than 9 million in the past 12 months — Santander Cycles ranks among the largest and most popular bikeshare programs in Europe.

Serco is an industry-leading micromobility operator having designed, built, and operated major bikeshare schemes across the UK, including London's Santander Cycles. Working with trusted partners, they build and operate solutions for public sector ownership, aimed at improving the lives of citizens and generating positive social outcomes.

This renewed partnership with Serco extends a long-standing collaboration in one of the world's most dynamic cities and strengthens Lyft's growing European footprint.

As Europe's leading bikeshare provider powering 17 cities, Lyft has consistently demonstrated how cutting-edge technology evolution drives ridership growth. Madrid saw trip volumes surge 200% year-over-year after Lyft replaced the legacy system, while Barcelona recorded 50% rider growth following the 2021 transition. Santander Cycles has been a London success story for over a decade. Now, these next-generation upgrades will help the system reach even more riders and support TfL's vision for sustainable urban mobility.

By combining deep operational experience with industry-leading technology, Lyft and Serco will ensure that Santander Cycles remains not just an icon of London, but a global benchmark in bikeshare excellence.