Afternoon:
15°c
Boris insists on safe cycling for bike hire scheme
Ruth Bloomfield13 Feb 2009
Mayor Boris Johnson is to encourage safe cycling for people who take advantage of his new bike hire scheme.
The scheme is due to launch next year and plans are being drawn up to make sure the thousands of extra riders it encourages are safe.
The bikes will have automatic lights which go on as soon as the rider starts pedalling.
A Transport for London spokeswoman said safety concerns raised by the central London boroughs affected by the scheme.
"As with any scheme of this kind there will be a very simple and basic condition of usage," she said.
The code of practice will be based on the Mayor's "Share the Road" campaign.
Its key messages include imploring road users not to turn the streets into a "war zone", and reminding them that "respect and goodwill benefits everyone".
Koy Thompson, chief executive of the London Cycling Campaign, said drivers needed as much advice as cyclists: "You have got to be telling motorists that there are going to be a lot more novice cyclists."
There will be about 6,000 bikes involved in the scheme, available at more than 10,000 docking stations across 17 sq miles of central London.
Reader views (13)
I am a driver, a motorcyclist (I have a 200bhp 200mph bike) and a peddle cyclist. I recently started to cycle to work - through Southwark to London Bridge every day. On my 2nd day of cycling I had an altercation with a black taxi driver who insisted he had the write to use the bus lane and tried to drive me into the curb. He said, even if I hit you it would be your word againt mine, and the Bus lanes are for cabs not cyclists. The easy way to resolve this is adopt a similar law to that in Amsterdam - which is if a motor vehicle hits a cyclist, it is the motor vehicles fault REGARDLESS. I lived in Amsterdam for 2 years and the taxi drivers their said they were very cautious of cyclists because if their was an accident - it was automatically the motor vehicles fault and they could lose their taxi license.
- Garch, London, 07/07/2009 16:29
Report abuse
just imagine...an extra 6,000 cyclists on the road in London. how fantastic will that be?!
I am looking forward to the day when there are enough bikes out there that motorists will finally have to concede that they don't own the road. only then will they begin to start driving more cautiously, courteously, and considerately towards other road users and pedestrians.
more cyclists on the road will make London a safer, calmer and greener city.
- Roger_The_Cyclist, London, 15/02/2009 16:25
Report abuse
I am absolutly sick of cyclists and their stupid ignorance on the pavements, and at traffic lights and parks where it should be safe to walk.............Unless you just happen to have one of these coming up behind you who do not believe in brakes and think we pedestrians can fly like superman to get out of their way!!
Where is the law that says these can do as they like as well as no speed limit concerning a walker!!
Bring back the car!
- Valerie, Hampton Middlesex, 13/02/2009 22:54
Report abuse
Does this mean he gets a rake off for supplying those stupid hats which do nothing,my friend was in an accident and parts of the hat were embedded in his head.
- David,Chertsey, Chertsey.UK., 13/02/2009 18:40
Report abuse
Can't wait to get me new bike.
- David,Chertsey, Chertsey.UK., 13/02/2009 16:30
Report abuse
Didn't the French have to admit that their scheme was a failure this week? Some 7,800 of the original 15,000 bikes (20,000 in summer) have "disappeared" – presumed stolen – and 11,600 have been vandalised. Paris suffers from theft and vandalism less than London, so can anyopne explain why the same won't happen here?
- Bob, Cheam, 13/02/2009 15:28
Report abuse
In Paris you need to put in your credit card details to hire the bikes, so if you don't return the bike you get charged for it, and they know who has it. It is a great way to get around Paris, much faster, cheaper and easier the the underground system, so it will be great if more cities like London adopt this scheme
- Jordan, Belfast, 13/02/2009 12:58
Report abuse
When Boris stops cycling on pavements and through red lights people might start taking him seriously
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 13/02/2009 12:44
Report abuse
There has to be a sea-change in thinking and driver mentality right from the beginning. The attitudes of drivers in this country towards cyclists is a disgrace, we should look to our European neighbours where cycling endeavours are respected by the majority. Traffic Engineers need to go back to school on how to include cyclists in the network - lanes, signage, parking and traffic light changes which allow cyclists to set off 5-10 seconds ahead of the main traffic. (see the work of Jan Gehl in Copenhagen)
Instead we now allow motorcyclists to use London Bus lanes, making it even more dangerous and confrontations more frequent, surely a step in the wrong direction. I didn't vote for Boris but at least he's trying to get cycling further up the agenda. I applaud the scheme in Paris and would love to see the same here, but it will need a better network of safe, direct cycle routes.
- Mark, london UK, 13/02/2009 12:22
Report abuse
This would be great if we were not in London where the culture on the roads can only be described as selfish. It's ok for Amsterdam but driver's here do not have the same mentality. I am a cyclist who avoids all main roads on the journey to work. This is the only sensible thing to do since courtesy, giving way to fellow road users, respect and heads for safety are not consistently applied by anyone on more than 2 wheels.
- Heidi, London (Battersea), UK, 13/02/2009 11:55
Report abuse
The scheme is a failure before it starts.50% have been stolen in Paris, so imagine how many here. Compulsory crash helmets too so we carry one round with us or wear a second hand one? I don't think so.Cycling in London is very dangerous this won't work.
- Martin, London, 13/02/2009 11:53
Report abuse
Will there they be hire-able inside City Hall?
- Jim, London, 13/02/2009 10:40
Report abuse
not sure why London and Boris will have the rental bikes, in Paris, they have lost over 50% of the bikes on hire and will very soon, cancel what they have offered, in the next year, and so, Boris do you think London will do better?
- Jaberwokie3, switzerland, 13/02/2009 09:20
Report abuse
