Around 130 electric bikes will be rolled out in Stirling from autumn 2026 under a new share scheme supported by £100,000 from Stirling Council and £35,000 from the Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership (TACTRAN) via Transport Scotland’s ‘People and Place Fund’. Procurement will begin shortly, with a launch targeted for late autumn.
Scheme Details and Deployment
The pilot will introduce a fleet of approximately 130 electrically assisted bikes operating on a modern dockless system, supported by around 40 designated GPS-enabled parking locations. Initial deployment will focus on key destinations and transport corridors, including the city centre, the University of Stirling, Forth Valley College, Stirling railway station, Stirling Castle, as well as employment hubs and leisure facilities.
The new scheme builds on Stirling’s long-standing commitment to active travel and shared mobility, following the completion of the transformational ‘Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling’ infrastructure programme. It also marks the return of shared e-bikes to the city following the closure of the regional Forth Bikes scheme in 2023.
Council and Official Support
Cllr Alasdair Tollemache, Convener of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee, said: “This is an exciting step forward for sustainable travel in Stirling. The completion of walking and cycling infrastructure has created excellent conditions for active travel across the city. This new e-bike scheme will ensure more people can take advantage of those improvements with an affordable and convenient cycling option. As a keen cyclist I’m really pleased about this, but e-bikes will also make cycling accessible to a much wider range of people by helping overcome barriers such as distance, fitness levels and Stirling’s challenging topography. They offer a practical alternative to short car journeys while supporting our ambitions for healthier communities and lower carbon emissions. The bikes will help connect people and places in Stirling and be an enjoyable way to travel and explore our amazing and vibrant city.”
Background and Impact
Stirling has a strong track record of successful bike share schemes. Since 2018, more than 156,000 shared bike trips have been recorded in the area, covering an estimated one million kilometres. Research shows that nearly half of Stirling residents would like to cycle more often, while transport remains the area’s most difficult sector to decarbonise. E-bikes have been shown to help replace short car journeys, making them an important tool in achieving the council’s target of reducing car travel and increasing active travel across the region.
The pilot scheme will run over an initial three-year period, with an option to extend for a further two years. A report on the e-bike scheme was presented to a recent meeting of Stirling Council’s Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee. As part of the committee’s decision, and to ensure maximum benefits are secured from the scheme, members also agreed that the Convener will write to the new cabinet secretary for transport at the Scottish Government seeking an update on active travel funding for Stirling and requesting an urgent meeting to discuss future investment in the area’s active travel network.
