By the time you next land in London, cycling could be back in vogue in one of the world’s oldest metropolises. In a bid to rein in out of control traffic congestion and overcrowding on London’s commuter network, a bicycle for hire scheme will be flagged off this Friday.
The brainchild of city Mayor Boris Johnson, the unique scheme is in the lines of similar ones launched in Paris and Montreal. Dubbed as ‘Boris’s Bikes’ after the cycling enthusiast Mayor, the scheme will see 6000 bikes on the road post the launch. Supporting them will be nearly 400 docking stations in and around the city from Notting Hill in the west to the Tower of London in the east.
A spokesman for Transport for London (TFL), the capital’s main travel authority said,
“The new system could transform the way Londoners as well as tourists navigate the city.”
The system is free for the first half an hour, but rates apply after that. The maximum charge you can expect to pay for long duration use is 50 pounds ($78). The bikes are solidly built weighing in at 23 kg (51 lb). The design is intentional so as to prevent thefts which had plagued the Parisian and the Montreal system. The extra weight also helps the inexperienced rider giving him more stability as he veers on the roads. From the feedback of a Reuter’s journalist, the stability has come at the expense of speed.
Only time will tell is the blue and silver bikes will become as symbolic of London as the black taxis and the red buses. But it comes at a time when cycling is regaining some of its lost charm. All thanks to the British Olympic cycling team which won eight gold medals at the 2008 Games.
More practically, systems like bright blue cycle superhighways dedicated for cyclists. Two were inaugurated this week. London cab driver Peter Makin told Reuters,
“If these plans work out and there are more bikes on the road and fewer cars, London will be a better place.”
That’s a city were shouting jousts between riders and drivers are a daily ritual.
Image: DannyMcL
