this TFL london cycle thing

[princeperch]

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/14811.aspx

I've noticed the parking stations have sprung up in various places around London and the City.

Seems like good value if you pay your £45.00 access fee for the year and your commute to work is say 15/20 mins on a bike (as you wouldn't pay anything other than your yearly access fee as long as you return the bike within 30 mins) - other than that it seems pretty expensive to me - although I guess it is maybe aimed at visitors/tourists, more than locals..

ETA: PH search wasn't working as usual so am not sure if this is a duplicate post

Edited by princeperch on Sunday 25th July 12:26

[rpguk]

More aimed at people who perhaps commute to Euston but work in Soho and currently have a Brompton (or the many people who fit that kind of profile but *don't* have a brompton).

It does get very expensive if you use it for a prolonged period of time but this is to ensure they are kept ready for other people rather then just locked up (they don't have locks either). The idea being that you use it for your ride and then place it back at a docking station. When you need to move on you pick up another one from the docking station.

This kind of scheme has been successful in other cities and I think it has the potential to work here too. I'll be keeping my eye on it.

The interesting thing to me is that they are essentially encouraging cycling without a helmet (the scheme has no provision for them). Due to the size of the scheme someone will inevitably be seriously injured or killed before long. That's just the way things are but I fear that it will lead to a media or legal backlash which could put a spanner in the works.

Edited by rpguk on Sunday 25th July 13:03

[princeperch]

true, however I did note that the bike stations aren't located directly outside the rail stations (although within a close walk) - I guess one commuter train could turn up and the lot will be gone for a good 30-45 minutes...

[ln1234]

What do you do if you turn up at your destination and all the cycle bays are full?

[john_p]

Looks great but I'd be worried that they will be taken as soon as the 7.45 (or whatever) comes in at each mainline station

[neenaw]

I can't see them lasting for more than a few weeks before the usual scumbags go round wrecking the bikes just because they can!

As much as it's a good idea in principle, in practice, I reckon it's doomed to be an expensive failure.

[Raven Flyer]

The same arguments have been made in other cities but their cycle schemes have worked well. Paris now has 22,000 cycles in it's scheme.

There is nothing stopping you from using your own helmet.

Edited by Raven Flyer on Monday 26th July 07:40

[Somewhatfoolish]

I've signed up, looks great for fat cheap bds like me, much cheaper than a gym, much less maintenance required than your own bike...