London Mayor Boris bike scheme opens for business
Boris and bikes in front of Tower Bridge
London’s newest public transport system goes live with 315 docking stations and 5,000 bikes available.
Londoners have awoken to a new dawn for the bicycle in the Capital says Mayor of London, Boris Johnson
London’s newest public transport system goes live with 315 docking stations and 5,000 bikes available. More than 12,000 pioneer members sign up to use the scheme, with over 6,000 keys activated. New icons set to transform London’s landscape.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today heralded a ‘new dawn’ in London’s bid to become the greatest big cycling city in the world as he launched the jewel in the crown of his cycling revolution.
Docking one of thousands of new bicycles at a Barclays Cycle Hire station in the shadow of the London Eye, the Mayor was joined by Marcus Agius, the Chairman of the scheme’s sponsor, Barclays, and London’s Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy.
The creation of an easy to use cycle hire system was a key pledge of the Mayor’s manifesto.
Just over two years since his election, Barclays Cycle Hire is now set to transform the way that people make short trips around central London.
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Capital’s newest form of public transport stretches from Notting Hill Gate to Wapping, and from Regents Park to Borough Market.
Londoners using the scheme can, from today, take a cycle from one of 315 docking stations based every 300m or so throughout the centre of the Capital, with a total of 5,000 bikes available.
People should never be more than a couple of minutes away from a docking station in central London.
Speaking at the launch event last week, the Mayor said: "Londoners have awoken to a new dawn for the bicycle in the Capital. Overnight racks have been filled with thousands of gleaming machines that will transform the look and feel of our streets and become as commonplace on our roads as black cabs and red buses."
Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London (TfL), said: "We expect this fantastic new scheme to generate up to 40,000 new cycle journeys every day in London as the Capital’s cycle revolution rolls on."
A membership key costs £3 with membership costs at £1 for a 24-hour membership, £5 for seven days and £45 for an annual membership.
Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite and Masterclasses current details and special offers at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1142003.php
Valere
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026