An efficient and inexpensive way to commute to class

In my first two years of undergrad, the best investment I made was my subscription to Blue Bikes, the cycle sharing system in the Boston area. 

One of the first things I did when I arrived in London was purchase a Santander Cycles membership for £90 using Student Beans (discounted from £120), which gives me unlimited access to 60 minute bike rides. With this subscription, ebikes are an additional £1 per journey, which is great for longer rides. For those on a budget, Santander is easily the best option, with prices significantly lower than electric alternatives such as Lime or Forest. 

I live in Rosebery Hall, which is a 25 minute walk but only a 10 minute cycle. Santander is also useful for commuting to society activities, such as going to Paddington Recreation for my track workout, which is about 7 kilometers away.

Here are four things to consider before purchasing a Santander subscription.

1) Availability of Bikes and Docking Sites 🚲

On my first day of class I made the brilliant decision to bike to my 12pm Philosophy of Science lecture. When I arrived to LSE, all of the nearby stations were full. Frantically, I scoured my phone for the nearest open dock, which was a few blocks away from campus. Depending on the time of day it can be difficult to find a bike or a dock, something to keep in mind if you are crunched for time.

2) Navigation 🗺️

Citymapper is great because it allows me to plan a journey using Santander Cycles. In addition to directing me to the nearest station, it shows me how many bikes and docks are available. 

3) App Reliability 📱

Since Santander operates through an app, if you have a bad internet connection, you might not be able to check out a bike. One solution to this is to order the membership key fob for £3, which allows you to check out bikes without opening the app at all. The key fob is also useful in the winter months when you are wearing gloves.

4) Safety👷‍♀️

Coming from the US, I had to adjust to cycling on the other side of the road. Another thing to keep in mind is a helmet. I purchased mine from Evan's Cycles, and while I try my best to wear it, the beauty of a bike sharing system is the ability to hop on a bike at any moment.

If you're interested in buying your own personal bike check out this article.