Boris Bikes Hits London
London has just launched their first public hire bike scheme, popularly named Boris Bikes, not unlike the one in Paris but much smaller. It is meant to be a solution to London’s overpriced and overcrowded public transport system.
If you want to cycle in London, there are a lot of guides available in local libraries for cycle routes or you can read this The London Cycling Guide: 30 Great Routes for Exploring the Capital
To use it, you have to register here, and get a key which will unlock the bikes at the designated locations. I have been trying to get onto that site but for some reason, my internet connection is blocking access the whole of the barclay hire site. There is a serious technology problem there as I am just a normal punter and I am not sitting behind a corporate firewall. Anyway, I will endeavor and find a way to register, possibly at a local library.They are going to introduce and option for casual users from September.
There are 400 bike docking stations throughout Central London with only 6000 bikes, which a lot or people has said is not enough for a big city like London.
Cost and usage
How much does it cost?
Membership + Usage charge = Cost
Membership is either £1/day, £5/week or £45/yr
Usage charge is £0 for the first 30 minutes of each ride then up to £50 for 24hrs
Where can you find the bikes around London ? Here are mobile phone aps and online resources. Check out BorisBikes.co.uk for a forum and more info.
- http://www.londonbikeapp.com/ (59p)
- http://cyclehireapp.com/
- http://www.londoncycleapp.com/
- http://www.londoncycleapp.com/
- http://www.layar.com/ (once installed, search for “TFL Cycle Hire”)
- http://www.uidroid.com/ (59p)
- http://www.bixou.info/ (59p)
Mobile Web Apps
Online Maps
- http://maps.camdencyclists.org.uk/
- http://www.oobrien.com/vis/bikes/
- https://web.barclayscyclehire.tfl.gov.uk/maps
- http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/roadusers/Cycling/cycle-hire-map.pdf
Paper Maps