Comments on: Poll: London Cycle Hire Scheme

By: Arthur

Arthur — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:05:24 +0000

FANTASTIC! There will be one just outside my house and one outside work! I will definitely use them because i have nowhere to store my own bike, and I absolutely hate public transport. Besides it would take me less then 30 minutes to work, as I usually walk in 45. Free travel! Hooray, very very good scheme!

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:09:54 +0000

Its a fantastic idea, providing it is used.

I can foresee the following:

Bikes stolen
Bikes just left anywhere
Cost rising

However, for those that don’t want the hassle of taking a bike on the train etc, this is a brilliant idea.

Bikes could be a bit better though.

By: Vrinda

Vrinda — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:47:55 +0000

I think that having hire cycles is a great idea. I’ve only been cycling regularly for a few months and already I miss my bike awfully when I don’t have it in London for whatever reason. You don’t realise how much slower it is to walk! So yes, I love this idea for the convenience of being able to make a quick hop from place to place without resorting to the underground, or the buses which I have always hated.

Also, I think it’s an excellent way of attracting new cyclists because they get to try it out and see how fast and easy and fun it is to cycle, then who knows how many will decide they want to be able to get around on their own bikes. Improving cycle routes, while very much needed, can be seen by not-yet-cyclists as for already-cyclists and not for everyone, whereas hire bikes get everyone on the road without need of personal investment until they’re hooked.

By: Adam Edwards

Adam Edwards — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:14:40 +0000

I’m optimistic. London Skyride shows politicians that there are lots and lots of votes in cycling, so remember that when the election comes. So lots of people hiring bikes = lots of votes. Thus when council x decides to spend on cycle lanes, one hopes the councillors remember.

Adam

By: Andreas

Andreas — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:05:36 +0000

David, I guess you have to wonder whether that money from the cycle hire scheme would have been spent on other cycling projects. My guess is it wouldn’t.
Jolyon, you can only hope!
Corin, you definitely have to go searching for the hills in London. They have found me recently!

By: Corin

Corin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:23:13 +0000

Better road surfaces and more properly secure cycle parking would be nice, but I also have high hopes for the cycle hire scheme getting us nearer to the ‘critical mass’ of bikes on the road to transform London into the real cycling city it could be (it is basically flat, after all )

So I vote ‘Yes’!

By: Jolyon

Jolyon — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:14:13 +0000

Anything that tends to get more people onto cycles more often is likely to be mostly good. Then an increasing number of people will find that, without any particular magic (or clothing), they are “cyclists” too. And then they may think about that when driving or walking around London. And then they may start thinking “hmmm, it would be better if there was better cycling infrastructure in London; perhaps I should contact my council”. And then things might snowball.

By: David

David — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:41:47 +0000

I’d prefer more secure parking facilities/bike racks/better surfaces/cycle lanes as a way of increasing cycle usage. It seems a lot of money to spend given the state of the roads in London are enough to deter any possible new converts the scheme would attract

By: Tim Benson

Tim Benson — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:07:31 +0000

Oui peut etre!!

By: MarkA

MarkA — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:01:40 +0000

I think if you look at any fairly substantial capitol investment project, a hundred million is pretty small-fry: we wasted £12 BILLION on the new NHS computer system before ditching it – you could lay good quality cycle tracks throughout central London for that kind of money! All in all, I think the hire scheme is a good thing – I have seen similar schemes working very well in other cities and hope the same will happen here in London.