The new free version of Simple Bike Rental is finally here
With the release 1.2.0 of the free version, the booking experience has been significantly improved thanks to the introduction of the new shortcode (previously available only in the Pro version) and a new layout that makes browsing and booking bikes faster, clearer, and more intuitive.
A more intuitive booking experience
The main highlight of this release is the new split layout. Instead of a traditional single-column form, the interface is now divided into two sections:
- On the left: booking controls (rental type, dates, customer details)
- On the right: available bikes
This simple change makes the whole experience feel more dynamic and user-friendly.
Instant catalog view
But the real improvement lies in how the layout functions. Before dates are selected, the booking form functions like a bicycle catalog.
No dates selected – catalog mode. The bicycles are displayed as a browsable catalog: clicking on a card opens the bicycle’s detail page (only if the Detail URL has been entered in the settings for that bicycle).
With dates selected – booking mode. When the user selects dates, the grid is filtered to show only the bikes available for the selected date, and the cards no longer lead to the details page; instead, clicking on a card directly selects that bike.
This way, the layout automatically transforms into a quick booking tool.
Why this is important
One of the most common problems with booking systems is forcing users to select dates before they can even view availability.
Thanks to the new two-section layout, users can start browsing the bike catalog without having to enter dates. This allows them to quickly understand the available options, without any hassles.
When they’re ready, they can select their dates, immediately view actual availability, and complete the booking. This results in a smoother first interaction and faster exploration of available bikes. A more flexible and intuitive booking flow.
Available in the free version
The new split-screen layout is available in the free version of the plugin. To use it, simply add this shortcode to any page: [simpbire_bike_rental_split]
If you prefer the classic layout, the standard shortcode is still available: [simpbire_bike_rental]
Other improvements
This release also introduces a few smaller but important improvements:
- Optional terms and conditions checkbox in booking forms
- Improved frontend consistency between different booking flows
- Internal code improvements and cleanup
Try it now
Update the plugin to version 1.2.0 and try the new layout in your own site.
You can find the full documentation here.