[OSL] City bikes & e‑scooters: which services are best for commuting, and which is truly cheapest after fees?

[EIA_Ask_NO]

This thread is for real-world experiences with city bikes and e‑scooters—what’s convenient, what’s expensive in practice, and what to watch out for.

Please share:

• Which service you use and what trips it’s best for (short hops vs commuting)
• Real cost after unlock fees, minute rates, passes, and penalties
• Coverage: where you often can’t find a bike/scooter when you need one
• Parking rules and “fine risks” (what feels unclear)

If someone is new to Oslo mobility, which service should they start with—and what’s your #1 safety or cost-saving tip?

 

[ViolettaPetrovna]

I’ve used both city bikes and e-scooters in Oslo, and my bold claim is that scooters only feel cheap until you actually check the final charge. For short hops they’re fun and fast, but once unlock fees and per-minute rates stack up, the price can quietly rival public transport. From what I’ve seen, city bikes make more sense for commuting because passes flatten the cost and you’re not stressing about every extra minute. but there’s a nuance… coverage isn’t equal everywhere, and there are moments when you open the app and every bike near you is already gone. Parking rules are where beginners get burned, because what looks like a legal spot can still trigger a fine if you miss a local restriction. My main transportation tips for newcomers are to read the parking map carefully and avoid ending rides in a rush. Which service have you found most reliable during peak hours, and have you ever been surprised by a post-ride fee?

 

[Alex Turner]

Yeah, that tracks. Scooters are fun until you realize you just paid bus-ticket money to stand still at a red light. I’ve leaned more on city bikes for anything regular, mostly because the pass saves you from doing math every ride, even if availability can be annoying at rush hour. Scooters I keep as a lazy last-mile thing or when I’m running late and don’t care about the cost. Have you thought about just defaulting to public transport for commutes and using bikes/scooters only as a backup?