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Plans to introduce a bike-hire scheme across central London akin to the Vélib in Paris have moved a step closer.
Transport for London today signed a £140million six-year contract with Serco, which runs the Docklands Light Railway, to operate the scheme.
First devised by Ken Livingstone, the plans are being taken forward by current Mayor Boris Johnson. A total of 6,000 bikes will be available for hire from next summer in nine central London boroughs and several Royal Parks, inside the Tube's Zone 1.
TfL believes the scheme will generate about 40,000 extra bike journeys a day. More than a quarter of the 400 docking stations, each holding 15 to 30 bikes, have been given planning permission. Bikes will be released by a smartcard - though the system will not be Oyster-compatible at the outset.
Details of the hire cost and bike design will be released later this year. Serco will use infrastructure used by the Bixi bike scheme in Montreal. Mr Johnson said: "I am thrilled Serco have decided to saddle up for London."
Reader views (5)
Donald, it is expensive, but believable. The bikes and stations will require costly technology. Further, the cost of servicing 6,000 bikes over six years will be great. Add to this the labour of transporting the bikes, the cost of designing and constructing the stations and docks, maintenance of the stations and docks... Expensive.
Oh, and where can I get a quality, brand-new bike for under £250? I'd love one of those!
- Martin Law, Glasgow, 27/08/2009 11:55
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grrr...why cant you use oyster on it?!?! yet another card to carry around
- Mike, london, 12/08/2009 14:31
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this works out at over £23000 - thats twenty three thousand pounds - per bike!!! Exacty what bikes are Serco providing - Gold Plated ones with Chauffeurs? Surely the cost must be £1.4million - and would still be £233 each bike!
- Gary, amersham, 12/08/2009 12:32
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Perhaps someone could persuade train operating company FCC to provide a decent secure cycle docking facility at their rail station at Palmers Green rather than the token three cycle stand out of sight in the car pak . Then pedestrians could possibly avoid having bicycles attached to the pedestrian railings on the Aldermans Hill outside the station
- Donald Smith, London, 12/08/2009 11:38
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Of course they may just be stolen before they are put into good use - see the other story today !
- June, London, England, 12/08/2009 09:34
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