London's Cycle Hire Scheme - artist's impression ©Courtesy of Transport of London

London will catch up with cities including Shanghai, Paris and Washington in July when it introduces its first easy-access bicycle hire scheme.
Residents and tourists frustrated by traffic and overcrowded public transport will be able to pick up a bike from about 400 locations across central London, for fees ranging from a pound a day to 45 pounds a year.
Customers will need to pay one pound (1.5 dollars, 1.1 euros) for 24 hours' access, five pounds for a week or 45 pounds for a year, and from then on they will be charged according to how long they cycle.
Cyclists can drop off and pick up bikes an unlimited number of times throughout their access period, but the intention is to use the bikes for short journeys rather than keeping them all day.
As such, while the first half hour is free, up to an hour costs one pound, up to 90 minutes costs four pounds and up to two hours costs six pounds, rising incrementally to a maximum hire period of 24 hours.
Officials said they expect the scheme, which will operate within London's Zone One travel area from July 30, to generate up 40,000 extra cycle journeys every day. The London Cycle Hire scheme, which will comprise about 6,000 bikes, is similar to programs already in place across Europe, including in Paris, Barcelona and Vienna, as well as in Shanghai, Montreal and Washington, DC., said he expected the scheme to convert "legions of people" to travelling by bike.
Transport for London, the city's transport authority, is still seeking a commercial sponsor for the scheme, which is costing about 140 million pounds (210 million dollars, 160 million Euros) to install and operate over six years.
London-AFP

Published 05.04.2010