Say Watt? NS to start renting out e-bikes at the end of September

The national Dutch railway service has had regular bikes in their repertoire for years, and now they’re set to advance to e-bikes at a small selection of stations.

The addition is for now in the trial stage, where four stations will be equipped with 30 e-bikes, for one year, writes RTL Nieuws.

The trial will start at the end of September 2022, so you might find yourself zooming through the dunes/city landscape before you know it!

It’s perfect if you need to travel faster, or further (110km on eco mode, to be exact) than you would with a regular bike. 🚲

It’s also a great green alternative to public transport or private motoring. And let’s be honest, it’s way more comfortable than struggling with a regular bike, or sitting trapped inside a sweaty bus. 😅

Translation: “An interesting question is to what extent the e-bike will become a competitor for public transport. Is the public transport ebike an alternative to the bus to and from the station?”

Where, when, how??

The bikes will definitely be available at the Driebergen-Zeist station, but the remaining three stations included in the trial are not known yet.

READ MORE | ‘Kijk uit!’ Amsterdam residents feel unsafe around speedy e-bikes on cycle paths

As opposed to the comfortable €4.15 for a normal bike, the e-bikes are going to be a touch more expensive, though.

For €10, you can live the e-bike lifestyle for 24 hours. But after three days, a €5 surcharge per day will be added to your bill. 💸

Important details: return, batteries, and GPS tracking

The main difference between the regular bike service and the new e-bikes is that the latter cannot be returned to a station other than the one they were rented from.

Further, it is important to note that customers cannot charge their own batteries. NS promises, however, that the e-bikes will always be fully charged — so you won’t find yourself stranded in the middle of the Dutch countryside, powerless.

READ MORE | 5 things to do when your bike has been stolen in the Netherlands

Finally, the e-bikes will be equipped with individual GPS trackers, to make sure none go missing.

If you think the thought of being tracked wherever you go sounds a bit creepy, the NS spies can comfort you with the fact that personal information and GPS information will be kept separate.

What do you think about the new e-bike system? Unnecessary laziness or a welcome relief? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image:Depositphotos
Juni Moltubak
Juni Moltubak
Juni moved to the Netherlands after realizing how expensive tuition fees in the UK are, and never regretted her choice of studying in The Hague. After three years of Political Science, she is ready for a new adventure — an internship at DutchReview! When you don’t see her typing on her laptop she can be found strolling around Haagse Bos or sitting in her lovely garden scrolling through interior design TikToks.

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