The city-wide bicycle network in London launched last month to great fanfare in the city. I'm already seeing many Londoners and even those in suits, riding the blue and grey two wheelers across city neighborhoods. It's certainly extremely encouraging, especially in a city that boasts quite a broad public transportation system already.
So how does it work?
Barclays Cycle Hire named after the large bank that financed the program, will operate very similarly to the Velib in Paris and the Bixi in Montreal, that is, a pay-per-usage cycle hire where bikes can be accessed with a quick swipe of a debit/credit card for half-hour intervals. Stationed strategically around the city, the network is currently accepting members only (where a daily/weekly/annual membership provides access). Bikes can be accessed and returned at any of the city's docking stations and the costs are very reasonable: 24 hour access for separate 30 minute rides will only cost you £1; membership will never cost you more than £50 (annual membership is £45) and half hour journeys are free (1 hour journeys are £1, 1.5 hours are £4 and exponentially upwards from there to encourage short trips). Late, damage and loss fines though, are quite hefty - up to £300.
How do they ride?
I have to admit I've not ridden one myself (we have our own bikes that my partner even uses to commute to and from work), but they look and feel quite substantial - the bike itself is pretty heavy (over 20kg) and made for short leisurely cycles rather than speeding through traffic. Leo Hickman at the Guardian provided a nice side by side comparison to the Velib that is frank, comical, and worth a read.
Despite the corporate branding and the public perception that the town has now been painted "Tory Blue", we think the addition of free short term cycling is a fantastic idea and will begin to change the landscape of vehicles on the road in the city. It also means that on hot summer London days, the family can go for a short bike ride, rather than squishing ourselves into a stuffy tube, which certainly gets a thumbs up in my book.
So how does it work?
Barclays Cycle Hire named after the large bank that financed the program, will operate very similarly to the Velib in Paris and the Bixi in Montreal, that is, a pay-per-usage cycle hire where bikes can be accessed with a quick swipe of a debit/credit card for half-hour intervals. Stationed strategically around the city, the network is currently accepting members only (where a daily/weekly/annual membership provides access). Bikes can be accessed and returned at any of the city's docking stations and the costs are very reasonable: 24 hour access for separate 30 minute rides will only cost you £1; membership will never cost you more than £50 (annual membership is £45) and half hour journeys are free (1 hour journeys are £1, 1.5 hours are £4 and exponentially upwards from there to encourage short trips). Late, damage and loss fines though, are quite hefty - up to £300.
How do they ride?
I have to admit I've not ridden one myself (we have our own bikes that my partner even uses to commute to and from work), but they look and feel quite substantial - the bike itself is pretty heavy (over 20kg) and made for short leisurely cycles rather than speeding through traffic. Leo Hickman at the Guardian provided a nice side by side comparison to the Velib that is frank, comical, and worth a read.
Despite the corporate branding and the public perception that the town has now been painted "Tory Blue", we think the addition of free short term cycling is a fantastic idea and will begin to change the landscape of vehicles on the road in the city. It also means that on hot summer London days, the family can go for a short bike ride, rather than squishing ourselves into a stuffy tube, which certainly gets a thumbs up in my book.
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