Nottingham now has two app-based e-bike hire services, with Dott joining the established Lime scheme in the city.
Dott, the German company previously known as Tier, has removed some of its Nottingham e-scooters to make room for a fleet of up to 300 e-bikes.
Although both types of bike are hired by scanning a QR code through an app, there are several differences in their price, design and riding experience.
Dott charges 25p for each minute of a journey, with no unlocking fee. Lime charges 17p per minute, plus £1 to unlock the bike.
This makes Dott cheaper for journeys lasting up to 12 minutes. From 13 minutes onwards, Lime is the cheaper option.
Dott is also offering new customers 50 per cent off their first four rides as an introductory deal.
The bikes themselves have noticeably different designs. Lime bikes have wide, curved handlebars, a front basket and the appearance of a traditional Dutch-style city bike.
Dott bikes have straight handlebars similar to those on a mountain bike and do not have a basket. They are generally smaller and narrower than Lime bikes, giving them more of a road-bike feel.
Both have low step-through frames, adjustable seats and kickstands.
The electric assistance also feels different. Dott’s motor works more gradually alongside the rider’s pedalling, while Lime’s provides a stronger and more immediate boost.
Dott bikes have mudguards over both wheels, while Lime bikes do not have a front mudguard.
There are also differences in how phones are secured. Lime uses a flexible rubber holder which stretches around the device. Dott has a spring-loaded clamp which holds the phone against a flat surface.
Dott provides an additional security feature in the form of a pin fitted through the back wheel. Once the bike has been unlocked through the app, the rider removes the pin and places it in a holder on the rear mudguard.
The two companies also use different designated parking areas. This means a location approved for leaving a Dott bike may not be available to Lime users, and vice versa.
Dott introduced its first Nottingham e-bikes on July 17. Its bikes have not yet been added to Nottingham City Council’s Nottingham Contactless travel app, which provides public transport information and ticketing services.
Dott’s head of public policy, Iqbal Ahmed, said: “Dott has added a fleet of e‑bikes to our existing e‑scooter service in Nottingham, giving residents a fully multimodal option that better serves a wider range of journeys and user groups.
“Our user surveys show that e-bikes appeal more to women and older residents than e-scooters do. They are also preferred by some for longer trips.”
A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: “We are working constructively with Dott and Lime to help ensure any services operate responsibly and minimise impacts on residents and public spaces.
“We are also seeking to maintain positive working relationships with operators as the market continues to develop. We will continue to work with them to support safe and well-managed services in Nottingham.”
By Joseph Connolly, Local Democracy Reporter