Hiring a bike
Hiring requires an account with the operator of the cycle hire scheme and an active access period. Dockside provides neither. It signs in to an account the user already holds.
What you need
| Requirement | Obtained from |
|---|---|
| A cycle hire account | The operator's website |
| An active access period | The operator's website |
| A payment card held on that account | The operator's website |
| A mobile number on that account | The operator's website |
Signing in
- Open Settings.
- Select Sign in to hire.
- Enter the email address and password of your cycle hire account.
Dockside sends those to the operator once, to obtain a sign-in token. It keeps the token. It does not keep the password, and it does not keep the email address. See Your information.
Access periods
The access period held on the account is shown in Settings under Hiring.
| Access period | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Single | One journey of up to 30 minutes |
| Monthly | Unlimited journeys of up to 60 minutes, for a month |
| Annual | Unlimited journeys of up to 60 minutes, for a year |
| None | No bike will be released |
E-bikes cost extra on every access period, including Monthly and Annual. Journeys longer than the included time cost extra.
Dockside does not decide any of this and cannot override it. Where the app and the operator disagree, the operator is correct.
Releasing a bike
- Select a docking station, on the map or in the list.
- Select Hire.
- Read what the operator returns, including any charge.
- Confirm.
- Enter the release code on the keypad at the docking point.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where the code appears | A red banner at the top of the map |
| How long the code lasts | Around ten minutes, set by the operator |
| Whether the banner survives closing the app | Yes. It stays until dismissed |
| Dismissing the banner | Select the cross at its right |
| Copying the code | Select the banner |
The banner persists deliberately. The code is needed while standing at the stand, after the hire screen has been closed.
Mobile number verification
The operator sends a code by text before the first hire made from a new sign-in. Dockside shows a screen to enter it.
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| When the text is sent | At the first hire after signing in, not at sign-in |
| Where the number comes from | The mobile number held on the cycle hire account |
| Changing the number | On the operator's website |
| Later hires | No further text, unless you sign in again |
Without an access period
Selecting Hire on an account with no access period returns the operator's own list of options and prices instead of a release code. Dockside displays that list and links to the operator's website. It cannot sell an access period and takes no payment.
Payment
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who charges | The scheme operator, against the card on the account |
| What Dockside charges | Nothing |
| Where card details are entered | The operator's website |
| Whether Dockside sees card details | No |
| Refunds and disputes | The operator |
Related
- Your information covers what sign-in stores and sends.
- Diagnostics covers hire failures and their resolutions.