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Mayor wants London to copy Paris bike rentals
By Ross Lydall, Evening Standard Last updated at 11:08am on 10.08.07
Freewheeling: reporter Alex Stephens tests the self-service bicycle hire scheme in Paris, where 10,000 are available
Paris communal: there are 750 bike racks across the city <b>Paris communal: there are 750 bike racks across the city
Ken Livingstone is considering a plan to offer thousands of bikes for rent for short trips across central London.
The Mayor is keen to copy the Parisian idea of providing 10,000 self-service cycles that can be unlocked from racks and used for up to 30 minutes at a time.
He saw the scheme for himself first hand when he joined the city's mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, for the final stage of the Tour de France last month and has now asked Transport for London officials to investigate.
Since being introduced in the French capital three weeks ago, the Vélib (short for free or freedom-bikes in French) project has surprised cynics with its popularity.
The heavy grey bikes are available from 750 places, many near rail and metro stations, for a one euro (65p) fee for each half-hour of cycling. They have been hired 1.2 million times - each being used six times a day.
Subscribers to the scheme must pay ¤29 (£20) a year, give their credit card details and leave a ¤150 credit card deposit. They are given a card to unlock the bikes from automated stations.
The Mayor, who boasts that cycling has increased by 83 per cent in London since he came to power, with about 450,000 journeys a day, is keen to maintain the momentum of travellers switching to two wheels.
He is holding a London Freewheel event next month, which will close miles of the capital's streets on a Sunday to encourage nervous cyclists back on their bikes, and sees it as one way of reducing emissions and improving the health of Londoners.
TfL has reportedly been asked to look at a city-wide scheme that would link the several small-scale ventures already in place and roll them out on a grander scale.
Former cabbie Bernie Hanning co-founded OYbikes three years ago, which operates from locations including Hammersmith, Fulham and West Kensington. Cyclists hire a bike free for 30 minutes after paying an initial £10 registration fee and phone the OYBike call centre to get the code to unlock the bike. Another scheme in Tower Hamlets encourages employers with tax benefits to provide pooled bikes for staff.
Dave Holladay, a veteran cycling enthusiast who advises the CTC, the national cycling organisation, welcomed the large-scale scheme. But he said previous attempts had failed due to the opposition of rail companies to provide space for bike racks.
He told The Times: "It takes no more than 15 minutes to get to any central London terminus by bike, so there could be huge benefits for the city." However, in Paris, commuters from high-level areas such as Montmartre have taken to riding the bikes downhill to work but not the tough return journey. Vandals have also damaged bikes.
Reader views (29)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
It is indeed a great idea which I saw in practice in Lyon recently. However, it really must work properly to avoid widespread disatisfaction. In Paris people are already complaining about broken bikes, empty stands to pick up a bike or stands too full to return one and don't seem too pleased with the company (JC Decaux) that's responsible for the service. London must make sure that it gets it right from the start.
- Cedric, London
You have my vote mayor if you introduce the bike to London and provide lots more cycle lanes, especially major roads and rat runs.
- Kt, London
Just went to Paris for the weekend and found out about these bikes while we were there. Fantastic idea for Central Paris with its wide boulevards and open spaces. My wife and I spent a wonderful Sunday afternoon enjoying the sights by bike. I think if it were to work in London then all traffic, with the exception of public transport and taxis would need to be stopped between 8am and 6pm. Still if they can figure out a way to introduce it then I would be fully supportive.
- Stephen E., London, England
How do I know that these bikes are mechanically safe? Suppose someone tampered with it and that caused an accident?
- Sarah N., London
Stop all private traffic in London between 8am-7pm. Simple!
- Fred, Dubai
Are you kidding? I've been in London traffic, at anytime of day. You take your life into your own hands just crossing the street. I would forsee a plethora of cyclists flattened under the wheels of the beautiful buses. Leave the cycling to quieter paths, and keep them off the city streets.
- S Seifert, Bismarck, North Dakota United States
Anyone remember STOP, LOOK & LISTEN? No I thought not. Of course every pedestrian seems to own the pavement, the road and the cycle lanes these days so don't need to look out for cyclists. We're not all a danger on 2 wheels, the true menace are people who are on 2 feet, in a hurry, on their phones or listening to music!
- Paul Humphreys, Essex
In response to comments about the dangers of mixing cycling and traffic.
Most cycle routes are sent down the back streets, keeping cyclist and traffic mainly separate.
- Carl Clarke, London
As long as Livingstone rides off into the sunset never to return.
- Carol Taylor, Romford England
I stopped cycling to work for two reasons - the first was sheer terror, the second was not being able to take my bike on the train, if I was too tired to cycle home.
As usual - the Mayor goes for gesture rather than joined up thinking - on your bike Ken! Lead by example I always say.
- Sarah N, London
Susan, glad to see a sensible woman on the site, not overcome with cynicism, and Richard - you are right - I was in Paris last week and thought the bike scheme was amazing. I might move there - get away from all these moany old men!
- Rachel, London
Susan -- when did I defend motorists? I didn't and won't. But the harm inflicted by motorists does not excuse cyclists from disobeying the law, which they do regularly and with some arrogance. (I was hit by a cycle whilst I crossed a road with the lights clearly in my favour).
- Philip, London, England
I think it is a great idea. However, (speaking as a cyclist) I do find it amazing that you can buy a bike and then cycle on the roads without any form of training or, at least, passing some type of theory test. Surely it would be prudent for them?
I wonder if this would help cut down the amount of accidents on the roads?
- Gareth, London
Philip makes a good point about the dangers posed by regular cyclists, many of whom ride without any care or attention for pedestrians or even other cyclists. I think the bikes should be trackable and that if a user is caught riding on the pavement or jumping a light they shouldn't be able to hire the bikes again, or should at least face a fine and a time-limited ban.
- Lindsay, London
Perhaps he could persuade local authorities to copy paris and introduce weekly refuse collections. Maybe he could reduce the tube and bus fares to the level of the Paris metro.
"Oh look, there's a large pink animal flying over Livingstone Towers"
- Adam, Harrow, UK
I think that once this scheme is put in place and the bugs have been taken out, it will be benefical. Low on pollution, easier to get around and a workout all in one. I'm not a cyclist but this scheme could definitely get me using a bike more as have no room and live way too far to use a bike.
- Lele, London
I agree with Philip here. It is a rare sight, in London at least, to see a cyclist actually bother stop at a red light. I have also witnessed many occasions where a cyclist has crashed into someone on the pavement and just cycled off, quite often yelling abuse at the poor person they've just knock into. They seem to think the Highway Code doesn't apply to them. Maybe it's about time cyclists were licenced.
- Archway Lurcher, London
Excellent idea. What about our unique problem with vandalism and off course theft. We're unfortunately more predisposed to these ills than other countries.
- Jay, London, England
Another opportunity for Livingston to waste vast amounts of public money on a scheme that will only benefit the minority.
- Colin, London
Great idea. London's cycling revolution has already started and any help to increases the number of bikes on the road should be welcomed by all. A healthier, wealthier and happier city! The more cyclists on the roads the safer they become and the more polution free. Also, less people crammed on to tubes and trains can only be a good thing.
- Phil, Lewisham
Ridiculous. People do not cycle in London, myself included, as it is tantamount to suicide. Would the reported £8m of London council tax payers' money spent to bring the 'Tour de Farce' to London, not have been better spent on improving the cycle network which currently constitutes nothing more than a series of painted gutters. You will never encourage the necessary amounts of people out of cars and onto bicycles until a network similar to the cities of Copenhagen and Amsterdam is established. Can I suggest the Transport for London officials start their investigations by going to Bermondsey Street underneath London Bridge station and inspect the 2 huge concrete bollards set 50 yards apart that interrupt the cycle lane forcing cyclists dangerously into the main road. We are all being taken for a ride.
- James, London, England
I agree that regular cyclists are dangerous enough, with little or no enforcement of the rules of the road. Having more cyclists on the roads will only lead to more accidents; not to mention the effects of climate change and unpredictable weather further affecting the safety of road bound cyclists!
- Bill Jasons, London, UK
What's clever is that after the 1st half-hour, the prices do go up very quickly which means riders to hang on to the bikes. Regarding the safety aspect, Parisian drivers have started driving in a much more civilised manner since the introduction of this scheme, precisely because of the fact there is a far greater number of cyclists around. So to the cynics in Britain I would have to say, come to Paris and check it out for yourselves - it really works!
- Richard, Paris, France
Yawn at Philip's comments - not quite as dangerous as 'regular' motorists who kill and maim thousands each year on the roads though eh?
- Susan, Kingston, UK
Why not make it easier for comutors to take thier own bikes into london on the peak time trains.
- Clive, West Drayton
I want to see a bit more evidence of Ken out there in Central London on a bike braving the "tunnels of death" created by his beloved bendy-buses.
If he can endorse that particular challenge as being acceptable, I might be a bit more inclined to give it a go!!
- Steve R, London, UK
A great idea. The more cyclists there are on the roads the safer the roads become, as the explosion in London cycling at the same time as a steep decline in cycling accidents demonstrates. Every extra cyclist means less pollution and congestion. Where would the racks go though, not much space in The City, or would the bike racks be at zones 2 and 3 tube stations?
- Susan Porter, London
Obviously never heard of bike theft then.
- Foxy, England
'Regular' cyclists are dangerous enough (running red lights and riding on the pavement). Goodness knows how much more thoughtless occassional bike users will be!
- Philip, London, England
