Wheels e-Bikes Review: Cost, Features, and Monthly Rentals

Wheels offers e-bike rentals that are a standout option in the e-scooter and e-bike rental space. Wheels bikes are fully electric (no pedaling required), and unlike Bird scooters, you can take a seat while you ride.

In this review of Wheels e-bikes, learn everything you need to know about Wheels: How to rent a bike, the cost to rent, bike features, and how rent a bike by the month.

Article Contents:

• Wheels Basics: Cost, Features, How to Rent
• Monthly Wheels Rentals
• Wheels vs. Bird, Uber & Lyft Scooters

What is Wheels? e-Bike Rentals

Wheels is an electric bicycle rental app that allows users to rent e-bikes by the minute. Bikes are placed in public areas, and users unlock the bicycle with the Wheels app. Because the bikes are dockless, you can pick up or drop off a bike nearly anywhere.

Wheels also offers private rentals by the week or by the month.

To rent a Wheels bike, download the Wheels app, approach a bike, and scan the QR code on the bicycle handlebars.

How Much Do Wheels Bike Rentals Cost?

Currently Wheels bikes are $1 to unlock, and 38 cents per minute to ride. The minimum fare is $3.49. Prices vary city to city.

Are there Wheels promo codes? Yes, Wheels offers promo codes for riders. To enter a promo code, tap the menu icon in the upper left corner of the app, then tap payment. There is an option to enter a promo code beneath Payment methods.

Can you buy a Wheels bike? No. Wheels bikes are not currently for sale. You can rent them by the hour, or by the month. There is no rent-to-own option.

Where are Wheels e-bikes available?

Wheels is available in Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, San Diego, and Seattle. In the EU, Wheels is available in Berlin, Brussels, and Vienna.

Requirements to ride a Wheels bike

You must be 18 years or older to ride, with a valid ID. You will have to take a photo of your ID during the rental process.

Wheels e-Bike Features: 18mph Top Speed, 30 Mile Range

• 18mph Top speed
• Up to 30 mile range
• Fully electric – no moving pedals
• Padded seat
• Collapsible pegs to rest your feet
• 14 inch bicycle tires
• Electric horn
• Bluetooth speaker – Play your own music
• Some newer models have a built-in helmet

Wheels offers a fully electric bicycle that is lighter and more compact than other electric bicycles, giving it a more maneuverable feeling.

The padded seat and relaxed riding position make it practical for long rides. Safety-conscious riders might prefer Wheels to electric scooters. Scooters feel a lot less stable than a bicycle because you have to stand to ride.

My review of the Wheels bike: I rented a Wheels bike and took it for a ride around my neighborhood. The Wheels bike had slower acceleration than e-scooters, but a faster top speed. The bike had good stability compared to scooters, although it didn’t feel quite as stable as a full-sized bike because of its smaller size.

It felt very nimble on flat streets and was able to handle moderate hills without slowing down much. Overall I enjoyed the way it rode, and felt like I would be comfortable riding it for long distances. Because of the seated position and larger tires, I didn’t have to fear every crack in the pavement like I would on a scooter.

How to Rent and Ride a Wheels e-Bike

To get started in the Wheels app, enter your phone number and input a security code that is text messaged to you. Next, enter your credit or debit card details.

The Wheels app displays available nearby bikes on a map. To rent a bike, walk up to it and tap Scan to Unlock. Point your phone at the QR code located on the bicycle handlebars.

For your first ride, you’ll be asked to agree to a terms of service that lets you know you’re riding at your own risk, and that you need to be 18 to ride.

Riding the bike: If prompted, press the power button. Kick up the kick stand, and kick down the foot pegs. Walk the bike to a safe starting area and take a seat. The accelerator is a twist handle style, similar to a motorcycle. There are two squeeze-operated brake handles, one for front and one for rear.

When your ride is over, swipe in the app to end the ride. You’ll be asked to take a photo of your parking location, rate the trip, and report any issues there may have been with the bike.

Where to drop the bike off: You can drop the bike off anywhere as long as it’s in a public area. Wheels recommends placing it near a bike rack or on a sidewalk in an unobtrusive location. Don’t block doorways, driveways, or pathways. Don’t park it in gated areas, in underground garages, or anywhere that it would be hard for another user to access the bike.

Other rules: Some cities have no-ride zones outlined in the app. Don’t ride the bike on sidewalks. Don’t take the bike with you on trains, buses, or in vehicles.

Wheels Private Rentals: Rent a Bike by the Week or Month

Wheels offers private rentals by the week or the month. Your rental is delivered to you, or you can choose to pick it up. You get unlimited free rides for the duration of the rental.

Currently, Wheels private rentals cost $89.99/month or $64.99/week. You can add a basket to the bike for $10 per month. There is a $25 security deposit. Private rentals are a subscription service that automatically renews, but you can cancel at any time.

Things to note about private rentals: Rentals are for sole personal use, so you’re prohibited from sharing the bike with another person. Minors are not to use the bike. You are responsible for damage to the bike, and if the bike is lost or stolen you may have to pay a $1500 fee.

Wheels vs Bird, Uber, & Lyft Scooters

The electric scooter and bicycle rental space is crowded, with options from Bird, Uber, Lyft, and other regional companies. There are lots of options, and in the end they’re all pretty similar.

Cost Comparison: Wheels is priced competitively with other rentals. Bird, Uber & Lyft rentals all cost around 30 cents per minute, while Wheels costs 38 cents per minute. Wheels cost $1 to unlock, as do many of the other options.

All of the scooter and bike services are a low-cost way to make a short trip around town, but for longer trips the cost starts to add up.

Feature Comparison: Wheels stands out from e-scooters for the simple fact that riders can sit down. Scooters may be more fun to ride for some, but bicycles are the way to go if you’re looking for practical transportation. If I were to commute around the busy streets of Los Angeles, I would feel much safer on a bicycle than a scooter.

Wheels bikes also have a longer range and higher top speed compared to Bird, Lime, Uber & Lyft scooters. Wheels can go 30 miles and up to 18mph, while scooters can go around 15 miles at 12mph.

Wheels vs Lyft e-bikes: The other main option in the e-bike rental space are Lyft e-bikes. The main difference is that Lyft bikes must be locked up at a bike rack, while Wheels bikes can be dropped off anywhere.

Lyft bikes also have a pedal-assisted electric motor, unlike the fully-electric Wheels bike. Lyft bikes are larger and heavier than Wheels bikes, which could be an issue for smaller riders.

The Transporter Gig: Get Paid to Move Wheels Bikes

Wheels manages its fleet of bikes using a combination of gig workers and Wheels employees. Wheels offers the “Transporter” gig, which pays workers $3-$5 to move Wheels bikes to charging and repair hubs placed around town.

The Transporters relocate the bikes into hubs, then Wheels employees charge and service the bikes. Wheels advertises that earnings for Transporters can reach up to $75/day.

Read More about e-Scooters and e-Bikes:

• Guide to Uber Scooters and Bikes
• What is Lyft Scooter?
• Bird vs. Lime vs. Uber Scooters vs Lyft Scooter