Bums on bikes

Brigid McFall
The Politics Show
London

Will bikes like these be a familiar sight in London - as in Paris?

On 17 November 2008, the London Mayor's office set out an ambitious plan for a free cycle hire scheme in London, giving cycle enthusiasts and environmentalists good cause for optimism. But, is it all freewheeling in the bike lane?

A keen cyclist himself, Mayor Boris Johnson has expressed his support for the scheme as a way of getting bums on bikes.

Already in London, the number of cyclists hitting the roads is on the up.

According to Transport for London, the number of people on bikes in London has seen a significant rise of 91% since 2000, and there are around 500,000 cycle trips made in the capital every day.

Moreover, the number of cyclists injured in London has dropped by 33%.

But, compared to some of its counterparts abroad, London still has a long way to go.

Europe's lead

A number of European cities have introduced free cycle hire, including Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Paris and Barcelona.

These have been well received and hugely successful.

In Paris, for example, the number of people on bikes has risen by 70% since the introduction of 'Vélibs', and in Barcelona, more bike parks had to be built due to the huge number of bikes being used.

Initially kick started by Ken Livingstone, the scheme is set to start in 2010 across Zone 1.

Boris Johnson getting 'bums on bikes'

Estimated numbers for the launch are 6,000 bikes, 400 cycle stations and 10,500 docking points.

Transport for London anticipates that the scheme will help Tube and Bus congestion as well as offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly transport alternative.

Back peddling

However, there are some potential hurdles.

Firstly, there is the matter of how to pay.

It is likely that there will be registration and usage fees charged to the individual's credit card account.

If the lender does not return the bike within 24 hours the account may be charged with a full deposit.

This is similar to the 'Vélib' in Paris and prevents theft and potential damage.

Then there is the question of where to park the bikes.

In an already congested city, will there be enough space?

But, on a more general level, there are still more important cycling issues to think about particularly that of safety on the roads.

Innovations, like the carbon fibre belt drive, are making cycling more fun

Big thinking Boris?

While the free hire cycle scheme is a positive step forward, many agree that more needs to be done.

Indeed, many of Boris Johnson's other transport policies seem to contradict his cycle friendly ethos.

Less than a month ago, the mayor agreed to let motorbikes in bus lanes and he has also ruled out a blanket 20mph speed limit across London.

Added to this, the mayor's office has rowed back on the commitment to develop big gyratory systems such as Elephant and Castle and Parliament Square - making them more cycle friendly.

Some voices at City Hall are saying that if Boris Johnson really wants to show his commitment to cycling he needs to start thinking big and do more than just implement plans put in place by his predecessor, Ken Livingstone.

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