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Big expansion of London's Boris Bike network announced for 2014Barclays Cycle Hire bikes

Big expansion of London's Boris Bike network announced for 2014

Barclays Cycle Hire to expand in south-west London
by Sarah Barth
Thu, Sep 13, 2012 18:35
9

Boris bikes are finally set to go properly south of the river Thames, as the Mayor of London and Transport for London today announced 2,000 new bicycles and around 5,000 new docking points in south-west London.

Following on from a successful Canary Wharf and east London extension to the scheme this year, the new plans for the other side of the capital are due to come in by early 2014.

Half of the new docking stations will be south of the river in boroughs including Wandsworth and Lambeth, while others will be installed in Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea. Some busy areas will have more docks added to existing ranks.

TfL has been working with the boroughs since last year to identify over 200 suitable locations for docking stations.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: “Every Londoner should be able to take advantage of our hugely popular and iconic Barclays Cycle Hire scheme which has already brought untold benefits to London’s commuters, businesses and visitors alike.

"Earlier this year we took the blue bikes eastwards towards Canary Wharf with enormous success, and this further expansion will bring more than two thousand new docking points south of the river as well as greatly enhancing the rest of the network.”

The extension to the west and the introduction of new docking stations within the existing area will increase the number of bicycles by 2,400 to around 11,000 and will deliver an additional 250,000-300,000 Barclays Cycle Hire journeys each month.

Since the launch of the scheme there have already been 15 million hires, and since the east London extension earlier this year the number of average weekday hires has increased by 50 per cent from 20,000 to 30,000 per day.

Antony Jenkins, Barclays Chief Executive, said: “In little more than two years, Barclays Cycle Hire has become an integral part of life in central London. With this further expansion, more people will be able to enjoy the convenience which the bikes provide to many thousands of people every day.”

Sadly for Boris though, the scheme doesn't yet extend as far as his gaff in Islington, meaning he'll have to rely on his own bicycle for the time being.

Boris Bikes
barclays cycle hire

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9 comments

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The Rumpo Kid | 12 years ago
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Call me anal but: The postal district of Lambeth is SE11. This includes Lambeth High Street and Lambeth Walk ("OY!"). Most of the Borough of Lambeth is in South West London.
Jeez Rumpo, get a life. (There, now none of you have to say it).

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AlexStriplight | 12 years ago
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It would seem that TFL has worked out that it's mostly middle class professionals that use the hire bikes and is therefore more willing to put more in those places where it will see an immediate take up of the service. I'd like to see them make more of an effort to get a wider cross section of people to use the bikes. Then it would mean that Bermondsey, Deptford, Peckham, Camberwell and Old Kent Road would fill in an obvious gap in their coverage. Of course SW London are much more likely to be Boris voters, aren't they...

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Coleman replied to AlexStriplight | 12 years ago
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AlexStriplight wrote:

It would seem that TFL has worked out that it's mostly middle class professionals that use the hire bikes and is therefore more willing to put more in those places where it will see an immediate take up of the service. I'd like to see them make more of an effort to get a wider cross section of people to use the bikes. Then it would mean that Bermondsey, Deptford, Peckham, Camberwell and Old Kent Road would fill in an obvious gap in their coverage. Of course SW London are much more likely to be Boris voters, aren't they...

Perhaps there will be a push to the SE in the next development. Tower Hamlets has benefitted from the eastwards expansion although it stops short of my borough (Newham). I'm not sure how many people in these boroughs would consider availablility of hire bikes when voting in the mayoral elections.

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pmanc | 12 years ago
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As someone who regularly cycles in Manchester, I hired a Boris bike near Euston to give it a go. As someone unfamiliar with the area, the roads and the traffic were horrible. I gingerly made my way to Regents Park, only to discover bikes are banned in most of it. 2

I know this is old news and I'm probably preaching to the converted, but making cycling more pleasant and less dangerous should be a much higher priority than more bikes.

In contrast when I went to Copenhagen and hired a bike, it was a great way to explore, and that was with my wife and three year old daughter.

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Coleman | 12 years ago
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The eastwards extension was very welcome. I've used the bikes a few times to cycle along the river on a fine evening. I see scores of Boris Bikes on the part of my commute that runs between Canary Wharf and the City. Hopefull the SW extension will be equally successful.

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davidi | 12 years ago
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Typical - SW London already well served by tube etc SE London isn't. But where do the bikes go - SW London. What's the logic.

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JohnS | 12 years ago
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Lambeth (well, my bit at least, is SW8). Brixton is SW2 and SW9.

About time these Kenbikes passed VoHo. I might even use one if I don't have to get a bus to the docking station.

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jackh | 12 years ago
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When has Lambeth been in South-West London? Do they extend to Brixton yet?

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chris75018 replied to jackh | 12 years ago
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Lambeth was South West last time I looked (SW12 certainly is) If they're doing Lambeth and Wandsworth I guess this means they'll be along Cycle Superhighway 7, through tooting and Balham? (fingers crossed...)

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