With version 1.0.8, Simple Bike Rental (free version) takes a small but significant step forward. Not by adding complexity, but by making the booking experience more complete for both visitors and site owners.
Until now, Simple Bike Rental has relied on a single booking form, and this process still works perfectly.
At the same time, many rental websites have a slightly different structure: a page displaying available bicycles and a dedicated page for each bicycle, featuring details and availability. If you’re building a real website, you probably already want both. So, instead of cramming everything into a single module, version 1.0.8 simplifies the creation of this structure.
We’ve added two new shortcodes to let you display a grid of bicycles and create dedicated pages for each one, fully integrated with your existing booking system. This approach is especially helpful when you manage multiple bikes or different models, but it works just as well if you simply want a clearer, more visual way to present your offer.
The core idea of version 1.0.8 is simple: let users browse the bikes, select their preferred model, and check availability to reserve it. A process familiar to anyone who has ever browsed a catalog: “Browse → Select → Book”. To make this possible, two new shortcodes have been introduced.
A bicycle grid for navigation
The new bicycle grid shortcode allows you to display your bicycles in a catalog-like format. Visitors can quickly view available models, visually compare them, and decide which one they prefer before starting the booking process. This is especially helpful if you rent out different types of bikes, like city bikes, e-bikes, or mountain bikes, or if you simply want to present your offerings more clearly.
A dedicated page for each bicycle
Once a bicycle is selected, users can access a dedicated page. Here, the booking experience becomes more personalized: availability calendars, date selection, and booking options are linked to that specific bicycle. This approach reduces friction and confusion, especially in areas with many bicycles or limited availability.
Mini calendars for quick availability checks
In addition to the new booking flow, version 1.0.8 also introduces mini availability calendars. These compact calendars can be placed anywhere on your site, giving users a quick visual overview of bicycle availability without requiring an immediate reservation. They are perfect for landing pages, sidebars, or information pages.
Technical improvements under the hood
This version also includes some important maintenance work. FullCalendar has been updated to version 6.1.19, and resource version management has been improved by switching from timestamp-based cache busting to version-based cache busting. In practice, this results in improved performance and more predictable updates, especially on sites that use caching.
Optional, not disruptive
An important aspect to consider is that the new booking process is completely optional. If you’re happy with the current booking form, you don’t need to change anything.Everything will continue to function as before. But if you want to offer a more guided and visual experience, you now have the tools at your disposal.
This update lays the groundwork for future improvements, particularly in terms of presentation and flexibility. As always, our goal remains the same: to keep Simple Bike Rental simple, yet powerful enough to grow with real-world needs.
Check out the documentation to learn more about the new shortcodes and available options.