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Boris pledges 6,000 hire bikes for capital by 2010
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard18.11.08
PLANS for 6,000 hire bikes to be available in London by May 2010 were given the go-ahead today.
A feasibility study conducted by Transport for London said the bikes would be located at 400 locations throughout Zone 1.
This would cover nine boroughs as well as several royal parks.
If successful, additional bikes could be introduced on top of the initial 6,000 which are expected to generate around 40,000 extra cycle trips a day.
Mayor Boris Johnson said: "When Londoners elected me they knew they were getting a champion of cycling and someone that would be a peddler of pedal power.
"I have long held the view that a cyclised city is a civilised city; but if we are to get more Londoners onto two wheels rather than four we need to provide the facilities to help them do so. I hope a central London cycle hire scheme will inspire Londoners as a whole, and not just the adventurous few, to get on their bikes and give cycling a go. I believe that the work we are carrying out can make the capital a city of cyclists, where to use two wheels is common not curious."
The scheme is inspired by the successful "vélib" programme in Paris.
Mr Johnson also wants to create 12 major cycle routes into central London and to convert part of the Victoria Embankment into a cycle lane.
The bikes will be kept at "docking" stations and the design is expected to deter thieves. Renters will have to pay a deposit when they take the bikes and there is expected to be an annual fee for registration.
However, there could also be a free rental period. Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor's director of transport policy, said: "The release of the feasibility study and the call for companies to tender to provide a cycle hire scheme are further steps towards providing the most sustainable, healthy and environmentally-friendly transport system ever seen in the capital.
"We are working incredibly hard to ensure London will be in a position to hit the target of a 400 per cent increase in cycle journeys in London by 2025."
The study also called for cycle training, the conversion of one-way streets into two-way ones for cyclists and 20mph zones.
The cycle hire scheme will be based in Camden, Hackney, Lambeth, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Westminster, and the City.
Transport for London has invited companies interested in running the scheme to contact them at www.tfl.bravosolution.com
Reader views (42)
I'm all for saving the planet, but I would like to invite Boris Johnson to Upper st, essex rd and Angel area in London any day of the week to see 99% of cyclists going through red lights, and this is not the only area. He choses to ignore these comments. I am not against cycling, enjoy it myself, but I do observe the highway code.
- Derek Pascoe, Ruislip Middlesex
Steve, London - fight back then.
I deliberately walk on cycle paths now, obstructing cyclists. The few who stop to complain, I just point out I'm showing the same lack of respect some of them show to pedestrains.
A london reclaim the pavement day, where people walk on cycle paths??
- Bob, London
Fantastic news.
I for one would use them. I have to catch the train into London every day and can not take my bike on the train. I hate the Tubes and Buses but have had many joyful years riding my bike in London (usually swearing at those lovely cabs turning left just in front of me or lovely people jumping out of moving buses without looking what is behind them - not just bikes doing the wrong moves). Overall, I would consider London safer to ride in then many places at the traffic moves so slowly.
There are a good number of cyclist who disobey the laws but generally speaking, it is the experienced cyclist (couriers) who get sick of pedestians and cars that break the laws towards then that as a defensive move dol what they can to protect themselves. you should try it for a few weeks, you would soon feel the same.
Anything though is better then being subjected to buses, tubes or cars in London. They are the only things that actually move and give you a sense of freedom.
- Robbie Stevenson, Leigh On Sea
Its a very good scheme but cyclists need more cycle lanes to use them safely on!
- Mike, London
For all the French commentators out there.. Paris is not London! As for the “a mayor who has an initiative and that has no hidden agenda” statement you are just showing your complete ignorance of politicians...
For all the cyclists out there, don’t forget that this is the Mayor that has given the chop to any urban realm improvements that would have effectively meant better walking and cycling provision in central London, on the basis that it would have an impact on traffic volumes...in other words it would have meant fewer cars... The cycle hire scheme is a political stunt that will not be of benefit to the everyday London cyclist at all...
- Ade, London
Graham is right they'll be stolen and also unlike Paris it will be expensive, too expensive to make it work.In London everything has to be priced to keep some bludgers in work.
- Martin, London
Good idea.
I see all the anti-cyclists nazis are having their say, and moaning about the pavement cyclists. How about moaning at the motorists that force these cyclists on to the pavements with their total disregard for cyclists on the road, driving while using a mobile/shaving/eating..etc. Most motorists seem to think because cyclists don't pay road tax, they should not be on the road. With attitudes like that, why do you think cyclists cycle on the pavement?
While the cyclists may be no angels, neither are the road users that they have to try & cycle with.
It boils down to impatient drivers who do not like being held up by cyclists & will do anything to get in front even if it means cycling through them.
- Dom, London
Most of the comments on make me sad, and remember why I left London!
I am not Boris man but good on him for trying something different. However the me me me attitude of Londoners will make this a no go option. Shame!
- Simon, Newcastle born Londoner
Michelle G - that's about the most ghastly comment I've read on these pages.
- Delphine, Oxford
Peter - what do you mean, "become"? I believe someone wishing carnage on fellow road users might already fall into that category.
- Reg, London
I hope they all get flattened!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
Cycling is too dangerous in London. The city has not been built around the biking ethos.
- E.Smith, London UK
also is he going to let cyclists ride on the bus lane too.
- Andy, london
reg london,
im not a lorry driver but do have a hgv licence,then again i own a knife but im not a murderer,wonder what id become if i bought a bicycle ? a moron ?
- Peter Ex Londoner, Hartlepool
I give it 6 months before all 6000 are stolen
- Graham, london
This is great but is it designed to deflect attention from abandoning the extension of congestion charge area? Too cynical? Probably not.
Hope the initiative to introduce more access to 1-way streets doesn't just mean a tiny lane between the kerb and parked cars, as is the case in some areas of SW London.
- Guy, London
For once you have a mayor who has an initiative that has no hidden agenda and all that londoners can do is sneer at it. No wonder Britain is in such a state.
- Casper Slides, France
Why do people label ALL cyclist as dangerous?
I stop at lights and obey the highway code when out on my bike. I also pay road tax as I own a car. I ride with lights, helmet and never on pavements.
But I do see cars run red lights, but I don't say ALL car drivers do it. I quite often have to veer away from pedestrians who walk out with out looking, but I don't say ALL pedestrians do it. And motorbikes in designated cycle boxes, but not ALL.
Most of the people that say ALL cyclist do bla bla bla sound like irate white van drivers who are ALL clogging up are roads with there dodgy vans and driving skills.
This is a great idea that will bring London up to date with other liberal thinking cities in the world, from a Tory Mayor as well.
It is about time car drivers realise they are the reason this city is at a standstill, and stop blaming people that are cycling, because we can do the same journey as a car in half the time, and for free. How I laugh when I pass you all sat in your tin boxes cursing cyclist. Ha ha ha ha.
- Cheljw, London
Who is going to pay for this? We are assured it will not be paid for by street advertising as in Paris. Inner London has been assured we will not pay for it. In Paris the bikes are stolen and exported to Central Europe. Serious accidents have been reported in Paris including deaths. One of the objectives is to encourage tourists to use them, who will teach them to cycle on the left and our specific traffic rules? Agree about the general problems of cyclists not stopping at traffic lights and zebra crossings at the moment. Unmarked two way cycling on one way streets is another madness. Do we want to isolate old and vulnerable people in their own homes permanently?
- Daphne, London
"Let the carnage begin"
Peter Ex London, Hartlepool
In a previous post, Peter revealed that he is a lorry driver so this attitude is no surprise.
Steve, London: I would be happy for cyclists running reds and going too close to pedestrians to be prosecuted. Would you be equally happy for motorists overtaking cyclists too close, and dangerously tailgating them, to be prosecuted? I know which is more dangerous.
I also can't help noticing that you were only "nearly" knocked down. That is always the case. Never seen an internet posting complaining of actually being knocked down by a cyclist, yet motorists dismember pedestrians and cyclists daily. Proportion, anyone?
- Reg, London
Great, nnow I don't have to buy one I can just steal one instead. After all it is my tax that pays for them in the first place.
- Michelle G, Woolwich
The problem is that there are not enough bike only paths - I cycle on the pavement (fully aware of pedestrians) because it is 100 times safer than London roads - bikes and cars don't mix! This cycle hire scheme sounds like a thieves and vandals idea of a good time. Boris should invest the money in better cycle paths - if people saw that it was safe, cheaper and greener they would buy their own bikes and this would save a fortune on the purchase, storage and upkeep of those 6000 bikes -this idea makes much more common and economic sense and it will last much longer than 6000 rusty vandalised and abuse bikes
- Mc, London
This works well on the continent. In Britain, however, those bikes will just get vandalised, broken, or stolen. Sorry to be so pessimistic, but that's British reality.
- Delphine, Oxford
I hope it's not like the scheme in Cambridge over a decade ago - where the bikes were all nicked on the first night . . . !
- Roz, Chamonix, France
Sarah - Why should cyclists pay road tax and congestion charges when they don't damage the road or cause congestion or pollution?
- Catherine, London, UK
One thing not to forget: part of the annual registration fee should pay for compulsory 3rd party insurance for those who sign up to this excellent scheme.
This is easy enough to organise - just look at the Swiss model.
- David, Geneva, Switzerland
The bitter comments here from anti-cyclists are so funny. They realise that cycling across London is the quickest and cheapest way to get about but they just can't make the next logical step and get cycling themselves!
good work Boris you know it makes sense
- Jimbo, London
opps missed a '0'
- Stuart, Luton, UK
This is a welcome initiative, and despite the cynics and anti-cyclists, should prove to be successful. Key factors to making it so include ensuring that the cycle routes are easy, safe and attractive to use and are well-signposted, and that the bikes are well-maintained. In my experience, the scheme in use in the city of Lyons is a much more effective model to copy than that on offer in Paris. The Lyonnaise system of computer-linked cycle parking bays and near saturation coverage of availability in the city centre made using the bike a no-brainer for locals and tourists alike.
- Austen, London
Hey Rodders get the van ready I know where we can get the some bikes were going into cycle hire business. This time next year we will be millionaires!
- Del Boy, Canvey Island, Essex
God give me strength! Am I the only one, whether I'm driving at the time or walking, who HATES BICYLES?! I know they're green etc but these arrogant idiots who sit atop these contraptions in busy built up areas drive me mad. They take absolutely no notice whatsoever of the highway code. They go on the pavement when it suits them. They ignore traffic lights all the time - red, amber green - forget it! They're a blasted nuisance! To add to this they pay absolutely nothing towards the upkeep of our highways. OK, if they want to peddle in London - PAY FOR IT like the rest of us - road tax, congestion charge etc - all's fair!
- Sarah, London
The system works wonderfully in Paris and several other cities in France. The bikes are of no interest to thieves and apart from strike days (ie; 1 once a week in France) there are always plenty available. Just need to teach cyclists the highway code now.
- Francis, Paris
Looks like we will then be able to say to Gordon Brown "on your bike"
- Andrew Mcconnell, Bedford, UK
6000 more cyclists not having a clue what they are doing, and I bet loads of them will be on the bloody pavements.
- P I Staker, London
This is only acceptable if the bikes are made in the U.K. Do your bit for the economy as well Boris!
- John, London
ON YOUR BIKE ?
What Next.
- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD
More cyclists going through red traffic lights, riding between cars, etc. Maybe if they all stuck to the highway code there wouldn't be so many injuries! I've seen so many idiot cyclists doing stupid things and they wonder why they have so many accidents. It should also be an offence (probably already is but not enforced), to wear a helmet, AND to use lights on their bikes when dark.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
As much as I admire Bonkers Boris's idea it is only going to mean 600 stolen bikes for the met to try and find!
- Stuart, Luton, UK
Good,now can we go one better and insist on laying down some rules of the road?Speaking as a pedestrian I'm sick of nearly being mowed down by cyclists jumping the lights.
Although they're wearing those stupid helmets and adorned with flashing lights it doesn't mean they can do what they like.
- Steve, London
Interesting.
It would be nice if it worked. The option to 'borrow' a velib when in a hurry rather than hail a taxi would be appealing to the majority of people.
I think the problems that the Parisians experienced was that there were a number of thefts of the bikes (which is common to all 'community bicycle schemes') and also that you can find plenty of the velibs at the bottom of hills, but not at the top of them!
I'm all for it. I just hope the elf n safety people don't get involved and start insisting that helmets must be worn under some misguided understanding that helmets make a difference if you are run over by a skip lorry.
- George, London
This is great news, the more cyclists there are the safer the roads become. Paris had a slight problem because people would freewheel down hills and then abandon the bikes so many of the bikes had to be hauled up the hill again. If the bike parks are at sensible places (Finsbury, Vicroria and Greenwich Parks would be good) then the scheme could be the success in London it is in Paris. Less pollution, fewer accidents, less noise, a world class cycling city. I'd like to see the bike design, will they be the same as the one ridden by the fetching Parisien above?
- Keith Flack, Stepney
6000 more bikes on Londons roads? Ha let the carnage begin ! and why bother changing one-way streets to two-way for cyclists,they already ride the wrong way along them anyway ! perhaps the money generated at the docking stations will be spent on finding extra places in Londons already overcrowded cemeteries for them.
- Peter Ex Londoner, Hartlepool
