Electric bikes in Oslo and Trondheim: rental, storage at the office, safety

For nomads and relocants for a month: how to get an e-bike ‘for work’, where to store it near the office, how to stay dry and what are the rules on the metro/train. Below is a brief overview: rental services, daily/weekly options, secure parking and combining with Ruter/Vy.

📍 Where to get one and for how long — city services and ‘classic’ rental

🚲 Oslo (city bikes).

• Oslo City Bike — a quick option for everyday use. For a short ride: Discover Oslo (72 hours) — 119 NOK; 30-day subscription — 179 NOK (includes 60 minutes/trip on regular bikes). E-bikes are available in the system for an additional fee (e.g., 1.9 NOK/min for a 30-day subscription, separate billing/unlocking; details in ‘Products & prices’). Open 05:00–01:00.

Trondheim (city bikes).

• Trondheim City Bike — 3-day pass 109 NOK (up to 180 min/trip), 30-day pass — 99 NOK (60 min/trip). Hours: 06:00–24:00. These are mostly ‘manual’ bikes; convenient for short everyday trips.
• Bonus: if you already have an AtB travel card (7/30/60/90/180 days), city bikes can be used free of charge for up to 30 minutes per trip — a good combination of tram/bus + bike.

🔄 Classic e-bike rental (per day/week).

• Oslo: Oslo Bike Rental — rents e-bikes for multiple days (pick up in Bogerud; more suitable for weekly plans). There are also rentals such as The Oslo Tour with daily e-bike rates (approximate price: ~350 NOK/24 hours, check the booking page for details).
• Trondheim: Trondheim Bike Adventures — a fleet of premium e-bikes (city/MTB), bookable for a day or longer.

Tip: for 2–4 weeks, it is often advantageous to rent city bikes for weekdays + a classic e-bike for separate ‘long-distance’ days.

🔐 Storage and security — parking at the office, locks, rain

Where to park at the office.

• Look for a locked bike room/inner courtyard of the building. If there isn't one, use station-based bike hotels (sykkelhotell): access via the Bane NOR Parkering app, 50 NOK for 30 days per station (auto-renewal, SMS notifications). Oslo also has municipal sykkelhotell Oslo at the same price.

How to lock your bike.

• Two locks: U-lock for the frame to the rack + cable/chain through the wheels/saddle. Remove the battery and keep it with you in the office.
• Rain protection: saddle cover, cover for the display/battery, quick ‘bag’ for the chain.
• In the evening: well-lit area, camera/courtyard, minimal ‘night’ outdoor exposure.

🚇🚆 Combining with public transport — metro/trains and ‘bike+rail’

Ruter (metro/tram/bus/boats in the metropolitan area).

• You can take your bike with you if there is space. On the underground — free outside rush hour, during rush hour (Mon–Fri 07:00–09:00 and 15:00–18:00), bikes are charged at the child fare; on buses/trams/boats — child fare always (if there is space).

Vy (trains).

• Bicycles usually cost 50% of the adult single fare, but no more than NOK 265; place your bike in the designated area and travel in the same carriage with your bike. Space is limited — staff will decide whether you can take your bike on board.

When to park at the station and continue by train.

• Long part of the route by rail, ‘last mile’ by e-bike: park your bike at sykkelhotell near the station (accessible via the app), then continue by train/metro. For daily routes, this is often faster and drier in bad weather.

📝 Mini checklist (quick start for 2–4 weeks)

• Download the Oslo/Trondheim City Bike app and look for 72h/30-day.
• If you need a full-fledged e-bike, book one from Oslo Bike Rental / Trondheim Bike Adventures for the days you need.
• Register for sykkelhotell at your ‘home’ station: 50 NOK/30 days through Bane NOR Parkering (or Sykkelhotell Oslo).
• Check the rules for transport: Ruter (free on the metro outside peak hours) and Vy (up to 265 NOK max).
• Put together a rain kit: a rain cover, saddle cover and spare socks.

The best combination for a workation: a city bike for short everyday trips + a ‘classic’ e-bike for long days, storage at a sykkelhotell and a backup with Ruter/Vy. This way, you can get to the office and ‘to the park after work’ without any unnecessary risks or getting wet. See also: e-scooters and city bikes.