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
Santander Cycles Negative Reviews
App won’t accept Non-U.K bank infoI just called Santander cycle customer service, they specifically said if you do not have a UK bank account and UK phone number, the app will not work for you. Please make this clear when someone downloads this app.
However, I can still use my physical credit card from the US at the kiosk by the Santander cycle rentals.
Again, developers, please make this information visible to people who just download the app. Or push to change it to accept U.S Credit Cards in the app..Benlc91Version: 4.0.35
AwfulTruly an awful app. When the app malfunctions on you, which it will, and you call customer service, the first thing the recording says is basically “we know the app does not work”. If it’s that bad, that your phone lines are so overwhelmed with the same issue, it’s time to fix the app.
I was charged by the app twice, and never got a successful ride. Avoid the app and just pay at the kiosk. Much easier (and no theft).NickygiscoolVersion: 4.1.0
No international phonesThis is an okay app but is slow and has frequent bugs. However the biggest problem is that if you have a non-UK phone number you are unable to hire through the app. (Meanwhile the app acknowledges foreign addresses.) Since this is London there are plenty of international visitors who will need this feature to be able to use the app..Mikeydapikey890Version: 4.1.0
Buggy AppThere is a known bug in the app that results in it constantly logging out users each time they try and rent a bike. This has been there for several months. It appears that the developers are not engaged at all as they are not getting it fixed and updated..Hed937Version: 4.1.0
I regret everythingI regret not reading the reviews before downloading this app. I regret downloading this app. I regret standing on the sidewalk trying to get this app to recognize my non-UK bank account. I regret standing on the sidewalk signing in again and again because the app will never stay logged in. I regret not just hopping on a Lime bike from the start..W85DLVersion: 4.1.0
Amazing bike experience, horrendous appCycling on Santander is the cheapest and most convenient way to get around London.
I just wish this app weren’t such a terrible experience. Please fix it.
At a bare minimum don’t make me login every time I open the app. Please support password manager autofill without needing to try twice. Have some sensible caching/automatic retry policy in place..NitromiteVersion: 4.1.0
What’s with the log outs?It’s never been reliable but in recent weeks it logs me out multiple times per day and now it’s a hassle to hire a cycle. Many people are having this problem. They haven’t done a software update in two months so it is time to fix these bugs..ParisPerfectVersion: 4.1.0
Don’t UsePlease don’t use the app. For whatever reason the issues are not resolved and they end up overcharging the credit card. They then promise you a credit within a few days. Never happens. Please use cash if you can. Customer service completely unhelpful. Small amounts but nightmare from hell. Love the cycles but lousy support. Over charged 20 gbp so far.....XxXGibranXxXVersion: 4.0.11
BrokenI used it for 5 months then When I needed it At 2 am to cycle home I couldn’t rent a bike. First it kept asking me for more payment details but would not accept them. Then they told be to redownload the app so I did and now it shows 0 bikes 0 docks anywhere and says error. How unsafe people depend on this!.PpwhitVersion: 4.0.20
Waste of timeGot a bunch of codes that I was charged for and none worked! Ended up getting codes from the Kiosk and some didn’t work as well... we needed 4 bikes and it was such a hassle... at the end you don’t really know what was charged and how much you paid extra!.StravooVersion: 4.0.16
App not functionalWas unable to confirm my phone number on the app, Possibly because it’s an American number. I tried multiple ways. Also I called the number and it said they were unable to take my call due to unforseen circumstances..Jframe88888Version: 4.1.0
Unable to enter a credit cardJust wouldn't work, on app or website. In each received only cryptic error messages. Perhaps because I have a U.S. credit card?.Nick KronfeldVersion: 4.0.27
Set up so tedious I took a taxi insteadDownload the app, fill out all your personal information, verify your email, then you have to login again, by which point the app hasn’t saved my password. I deleted it and took a taxi..Allwill56789Version: 4.1.0
Registration process is too difficultSeveral improvements can be made to make the registration smoother.
1. Browser auto-fill
2. Sign up w Apple or Google
3. Reduce information collection such as home address. Is that really necessary?
4. Allow sign up without a UK phone number, that will make it more tourist friendly
Otherwise the bikes are great and price is reasonable. Although all 3 bikes I rode had weak brakes in my experience..Setman85Version: 4.0.33
Does not work with international cardsNow you can ONLY use the app . And kiosks don’t release codes . Brilliant idea when non of the international cards are working with your app . Have no trouble paying for anything in london using these 3 banks from USA . Your app would not accept ANY ..AnyabaguiVersion: 4.0.24
False ChargesI tried creating an account and the app kept saying the payment failed and could not create an account. However when I looked at my bank account I noticed that it charged me 4 times for the 4 attempts I made to create an account..AjdknfvjlkwVersion: 4.0.10
HorribleHorrible sign up process that won’t let me add my card even after completing all steps correctly, the ‘submit card details’ button doesn’t light up.
Also, it’s 2023 let us use Apple pay!.Die_no_mightVersion: 4.0.27
Horribly confusing and out for your dataAbsolutely terrible. Confusing and just looking for your data. I gave up after 10 minutes of trying..Soccerguy321OVVersion: 4.0.27
Not for touristsThe app account requires a text message which won’t work for US phones. The stations won’t complete a rental with a US card. Wasted an hour.CommodoreVic20Version: 4.0.34
AnnoyingEver since the last update , the app keeps logging me out after 5 min - please fix!.Vin7227Version: 4.1.0
Frustrating for US visitorsWasted 20 minutes trying to get this set up only to find after calling support the app won’t text us based numbers to verify your account - very very lame.JbmeditatorVersion: 4.0.28
Did not workCould not set up account due to a technical glitch. Also my bank account was charged 3 times without being able to set up the account. This was verified with customer service..Bookreader001Version: 4.0.7
Terrible connectivityNice functionality but virtually unusable — keeps crashing or complaining about the lack of Internet connection while there’s a strong signal and all other apps are working just fine.Victord1960Version: 4.0.5
Horrible appThe app simply does not allow you to use your membership when attempting to rent a bike, even when you’ve already paid for the membership.Solok89Version: 4.0.31
Worst public bike rental everFirst of all logging does not support iOS password manager. Address look up is not working because of internal mongo DB failure. Does not support Apple Pay or PayPal, and my credit card payment got rejected for no reason..YoungsterduckVersion: 4.0.34
Feels clunky, is clunky at timesI don’t expect too much from this app but the UI needs to be updated for iPhone X..RavvivandoVersion: 4.0.5
Signup not workingSignup not working for an address outside the UK. You can just go to the bike locations and use a credit card to rent if it’s a short term rental. No need for the app.
Why can’t this app use Apple Pay and Apple login to remove most of their signup steps?.BerricksVersion: 4.0.9
You paid too much for nothingVery bad service, it is not available 24 hours. The system occasionally down and you can’t even hire a bike through this slow and heavy app..FoolwazeVersion: 4.0.5
Omg do u even want my money??This was the most difficult, annoying, time consuming, tedious, slow process ever. the app loads incredibly slow and doesn’t respond to taps, on top of the insane amount of info u have to put in. do u guys even want money? do u understand most people here are tourists? this was overall a miserable experience to use and a horrible app.Anonymous482027743Version: 4.1.0
Horrible experienceAll my cards are systematically declined when trying to get an annual subscription. There’s no way to contact customer service..SalahidinVersion: 4.0.18
App just DO NOT WORKTried to register, it asked for a card. I entered my address in USA. It didn’t said anything, no error, but button to “submit card details” remain inactive.
App is unusable. Totally useless..TrtrtrtVersion: 4.0.15
Wont accept usa addressEnough said. Get nasty sdk error flashing and immediately after some other strange message ab field formats
Between this an RingGo not accepting usa phone number, doesn’t uk want our tourist dollars?.DjwockyVersion: 4.0.21
Keeps signing outEvery time I open the app I have to sign in again, a couple of times a day even. Super annoying..WimaggucVersion: 4.1.0
UselessI tried 4 different credit cards and none of them worked.
Total waste of time..ScottNelsonVersion: 4.1.0
Can’t favorite. Keeps crashing.Keeps crashing when trying to use favorite.FjiskcnjsidkVersion: 4.0.35
Cannot register - app hangs at Enter AddressMaybe this app is great, maybe not. I’ll never know. Repeated attempts to register have all failed at the “Enter your address” part. It hangs on an endlessly spinning wheel..Utterly Useless Pointless RubbishVersion: 4.0.9
Log outThe app keeps logging me out all the time, making it really inconvenient to use..MojovodooVersion: 4.1.0
NotificationsYour free cycle hire next Sunday notification is coming through every 15seconds, please stop it I’ve had over 20 already!.EmdavittVersion: 4.0.9
Read the terms carefullyThought I could hire the bike for £2 over a 24 hour period, ending up paying £20 after I realized you need to dock the bike afterward 30 min of use. Clever marketing ploy..Pzcd790Version: 4.0.4
Can’t use it!This app doesn’t work with a US phone and credit card. Super disappointing..Solomon magnusVersion: 4.0.28
Total fiascoIt just kept logging out. It takes 2-3 minutes to hire a cycle. You guys need to fix this..Kunheo123Version: 4.1.0
Crashes immediately on loadDoes not seem to updated for iOS 12.MohthomVersion: 4.0.5
ProblemCreated an account, tried 3 different credits and kept getting message saying bank not approved. I’m from the USA!.Tereas's iTunesVersion: 4.0.9
Always crashesSo many times it will not load or need to connect to WiFi it says..... ughhhh.GiguyfgifVersion: 4.0.5
App logout issuesThe app logs you out after each ride.Jry0Version: 4.1.0
Five stars for the bikes, minus three for the appThe app is way too buggy and slow. What a shame..F222274Version: 4.0.23
AwfulI tried to register 3 times, but it says that my card was declined, but it wasn’t. So I practically gave you 6£ as a present..Tania_bekkerVersion: 4.0.9
Don’t USE!!!Requires phone verification after you pay… guess what happens if you’re travelling…
genuinely a horrible app overall.MzfattalVersion: 4.1.0
Worst cycle hire in the worldI cannot put into words how much i despise using their app. The ui is atrocious, nothing ever works. Their physical hire machines are also rubbish. I hope someone acquires the company and runs it into the ground..Sweet opsVersion: 4.0.35
Worst user interface for a cycle sharing appWORST USER INTERFACE. Always bugging, never recognizes my subscriptions.AbbyaalmVersion: 4.0.32
Not for CanadiansDoesn’t accept Canadian postal codes for the credit card registration..CreegganVersion: 4.0.28
Won’t work for Canadian cardsAs others have said, the 3DS verification does not work for Canadian credit cards..David loukiVersion: 4.0.28
Totally useless! App freezes and won’t let you hire a bikeAn app built to hire a bike has one job. This app fails. I’ve tried entering my details many times to hire a bike and the app crashes every time . Don’t waste your time..NuggaagguNVersion: 4.0.28
Very difficult to set up… can only rent one bike at a time with the appThis app was very difficult to set up. I signed up online initially, then downloaded the app. After I signed into the app, I had to re-enter all my info once again (name, address, phone, etc.). The first time I tried to rent a bike, I had to re-enter my payment info, and re-confirm it a second time. Wry difficult and time consuming - it took over an hour just to set it up.
Normally you can rent up to 4 bikes with the same payment card, but the machine was not working at Kensington Gardens Palace Gate, so I tried to use the app - but was unsuccessful because the app only allows one bike per account.
My overall experience was very painful, so I wouldn’t recommend using this company to anyone..StarWarsBuff68Version: 4.0.28
Does not allow adding Canadian credit cardsThere is something up with very lame security checks for the card add.
Errors all the time with RBC and Neo financial. TD seems to go though but I can’t 2factor approve with the 3DS because I don’t have that Canadian sim installed here.
No Apple Pay.
Very bad system..James………Version: 4.0.27
App is clunkyI downloaded the app, successfully imputed my cc details, which was a challenge in itself because my home address is Canada, and tried unsuccessfully to use the app to book a bike.
paying with cc directly at the station seems to work fine..DarrenMmannVersion: 4.0.26
Does not workWill reject attempts to create accounts for Canadians in London. Probably not intentionally. Still no restrictions were provided..A SpiralVersion: 4.0.9
App is Fraud. Apple to remove from App StoreFraud. Take my word for it. Don’t waste your time..IrrelevantbutastuteVersion: 4.0.5
Codes sent by app don’t workThe release codes sent by the app aren’t working. Call support and they just say it’s a known issue and to reinstall the app... still won’t work..Jubjub006Version: 4.0.4
Why do you keep asking to confirm payment detailsVery annoying when you need to reserve a bike and you are pressed for time!.BrioPackVersion: 4.0.3
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