Last updated: 30 October 2025
Next review: 30 October 2026
We want as many people as possible to choose sustainable and active travel in our borough.
If you'd like to access a bike, you'll find details of our schemes below.
Community Cycle Loan Scheme
We have more than 30 community bikes and a range of cargo bikes available for short-term loan to anybody who lives, works or studies in Waltham Forest.
You can loan a standard bike for up to one month, and a cargo bike for a maximum of two weeks.
The scheme is free to access, however, we ask for a deposit of £100 and proof of identification.
As the scheme is so popular, there is often a waiting list.
Standard bikes
We have a fleet of standard two-wheeler bikes you can hire for up to one month. All we need from you is a £30 deposit, which we'll return once the loan is over. All bikes come with a helmet, lights and a lock. The bike and any equipment must be returned once the hire period is over
Babboe City Mountain
The Babboe City Mountain cargo bike can easily cover great distances and climb hills with no sweat. With one bench, the bike can accommodate up to two children, and there is plenty of room for cargo too.
Bike specifications:
- Dimensions: 255 x 65 x 110cm
- 2 wheels
- Max load: 80kg
- Bench with seat belts for two children and a hood cover.
- Gold standard lock and chain
- Charging time 4-6 hours
Babboe Curve-E
The Babboe Curve-E has electric pedal assistance so you can easily cover great distances and climb hills with no sweat. With two benches, the bike can accommodate up to four children, and there is plenty of room for cargo too.
Bike specifications:
- Dimensions: 217 x 88 x 110cm
- 3 wheels
- Cargo Volume: 312 litres
- Cargo Box Dimensions: 90 x 63 x 55cm
- Max Load: 100kg
- Bench with seat belts for four children and a hood cover
- Gold standard lock and built-in lights
Babboe Dog-E
The electric Babboe Dog cargo bike is the solution for every dog lover. With the electric Babboe Dog cargo bike equipped with seats and a dropdown ramp, it’s a great option for carrying kids, cargo, for your four-legged friend.
Bike specifications:
- Dimensions: 217 x 88 x 110cm
- 3 wheels
- Max load: 100kg
- Bench with seat belts for two children
- Gold standard lock and chain
Bakfiets Clasic Cargo Bike
A classic two-wheel cargo bike from The Netherlands that has a familiarity to ride with stability in mind. Our Bakfiets is not electric assist, but due to the positioning of the wheels, the rider can comfortably pedal a range of loads. Our Bakfiets can fit two children or up to 80kg of cargo.
Bike specifications:
- Dimensions: 225 x 63 x 115 cm
- Cargo Volume: 126 litres
- Cargo Box Dimensions: 70 x 63 x 51 cm
- Max Load: 80 kg
- Bench with seat belts and hood cover
- Gold standard lock and lights
Bakfiets E Short Cargo bike
The Bakfiets E Short is an electric two-wheel cargo bike ideal for city cycling. The Bakfiets E Short has an electric pedal assistance allows for easy cycling in traffic. The bike can also carry up to two children or a maximum load of 80kg.
Bike specifications:
- Dimensions: 228 x 63 x 115 cm
- Max Load: 80kg
- 2 wheels
- Bench with seat belts and hood cover
- Box Size: 70 x 63 x 51 cm
- Carries up to 2 children
- Gold standard chain lock and lights
Christiania Classic Cargo Bike
Our Christiania Classic is a great choice for local trips, for example to the shops or school. It is designed to carry loads of up to 100 kg with ease and is very easy to power along with seven low gears. This version has a bench, three-point harness and waist belt to accommodate two children.
Bike specification:
- 208 cm long x 85 cm wide
- 3 wheels
- 7 gears
- Bench with seat belts and hood cover
- Carries up to two children
- Weight load capacity 100 kg
- Box size 88 cm x 62 cm
- Gold standard lock and lights
Christiania Cargo Bike
The Christiania Cargo Bike is non-electric that can carry up to two children or a maximum load of 100kg.
Bike specifications:
- Dimensions: 208x85x114 cm
- Max Load: 100kg
- 3 wheels
- Bench with seat belts and hood cover
- Box Size: 88x62x50 cm
- Carries up to 2 children
- Gold standard chain lock and lights
Christiania Taxi
From Denmark, the Christiania range of bikes won the Danish Design Awards in 2011. Our electric-assist taxi model has three-wheels and is great for pedalling older children, teenagers and adults. The bike is amazing for social rides and like all Christianias is unique for having one handlebar. This design feature helps stability with the rider encouraged to steer with just one hand positioning in the centre of the handlebar.
Bike specification:
- Dimensions: 235 x 100 x 114 cm
- Max Load: 150kg
- 3 wheels
- Bike comes with cushions and a weather hood
- Gold standard lock and chain
Nihola Family-E
The Nihola Family-E cargo bike is our most popular model for families with children.
The Family-E cargo bike can carry up to 100kg in the cabin and there is space for 2 children of up to the age of 7 to 8 years old on the bench.
The Nihola Family cargo bike has been awarded the best 3-wheeled cargo bike for transporting children by the Danish newspaper Politiken and the Dutch ”Fietsersbond” (Dutch Cyclist Union).
Bike specification:
- Dimensions: 200 x 89 x 110 cm
- Max Load: 100kg
- 3 wheels
- Gold standard lock and chain
Carla Cargo trailer
We have two types of Carla cargo trailers, an electric version and non-electric. The trailer has a spacious flatbed and can be used to transport a variety of items. The electric trailer must be loaned with a standard bike that has been adapted to allow the electric assist to function, whilst the non-electric trailer can be attached to your own bike or can be loaned with one our community bikes (subject to availability).
Both can also be used a hand-cart, if you’d prefer not to ride a bike with them. Please note the dimensions as these trailers are quite wide (and heavy), so are unlikely to fit through doorways. The eCarla can be used either as an electric assist trailer with a regular bike, or pulled along as an electric assist hand cart.
The trailers are frequently loaned out for people to assist with moving house, or for trips to a Household Waste and Recycling Centre.
Bike specifications:
- Trailer weight: 45kg
- Trailer dimensions: L 230cm x W 95cm x H 75cm
- Platform dimensions: L 165cm x W 65cm (1.5m3 loading volume)
- Max total weight: 150kg as trailer, 200kg as hand trolley
Jorvik trike
The Jorvik trike in our fleet was kindly donated by a Leytonstone resident. The trike features a low step-through frame, seven gears and disc brakes, Based in York, Jorvik Tricycles provide the freedom of two wheels, with the safety and stability of three wheels.
To hire a bike please get in touch
Why not trial one of our cargo bikes or standard bikes free of charge? Simply follow these three easy steps.
Email the cycle hire team
Email cyclehire@walthamforest.gov.uk and tell us:
- Your full name
- Your height
- Confirmation of whether you live, work or study in Waltham Forest
- Which bike(s) you would be interested in hiring
- How long the hire is for
- Preferred dates of the hire
- If you're hiring it on your own or as a couple or family - all users will need to have an induction
- Your preferred contact details.
If you are interested in loaning a cargo bike, it can also be helpful to share any dates that would not be suitable for you to loan the bike. As the scheme is so popular we can sometimes be scheduling up to 6 weeks in advance and sharing more detailed availability helps us speed up the booking process.
If you are not sure what bike would be suitable, please let us know what you plan to use the bike for, and we can advise what would be suitable.
Wait for us to contact you
After we receive your email, we’ll check availability and get in touch to book you in. We aim to respond to enquiries within three working days, however, during busy periods this may be longer.
There is a refundable deposit of £100 for a cargo bike and £100 for a standard bike and we will provide instructions on how to pay this. Please note, we have recently increased our standard bike deposit from £30 to £100 due to conditions set by our insurers.
Attend training
As cargo bikes are different to standard bikes, we’ll invite you down on the day of pick up for an induction. This will help you get used to the bike (secure cycle parking is available too). You'll also need to sign either a cargo bike loan agreement or a standard bike loan agreement.
Please note:
- This scheme is for anyone who lives, works or studies in Waltham Forest.
- Bikes must be collected on weekdays between 8:30am and 4.30pm.
Peddle My Wheels: Try Before You Bike
Try Before You Bike is a user-friendly scheme that is specifically designed to encourage people to cycle.
- Pay monthly for a bike (including hybrid, folding bikes, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and adaptive bikes) with an easy to order process
- Free friendly delivery to your door with accessories (helmet, lights and lock) and guidance
- No deposit or hidden fees
- Affordable purchase options and Cycle To Work available
- Free collection if you decide the bike is not for you
- Support and encouragement given to help you get confident on the roads.
Sign up with Peddle My Wheels who run the programme on our behalf.
Brompton bike hire
Brompton Bike Hire has been operating in the borough since 2015. There are now 41 cycle docks across the country, with two of these in Waltham Forest. You can hire a bike from Leyton or Leytonstone stations for £5 per day.
Visit the Brompton Bike Hire website for more information.
Secondhand Bikes
Do you have a bike that you no longer use? Please let us know, as it may be suitable for our Community Cycle Loan fleet.
For more details, email cycling@walthamforest.gov.uk.