Cycle hire scheme for London

A mass cycle-hire scheme should be in London by May 2010. Transport for London has invited companies interested in running the scheme to get in touch with them.

The scheme will allow people to pick up and drop off hire bikes at 400 locations across the central London boroughs and Royal Parks that make up London’s Zone One travel area.

The area covered by the scheme is expected to be approximately 6 miles wide - extending from Holland Park to Shoreditch - by 3 miles high - from Elephant & Castle to Kings Cross.

The scheme will be equipped initially with 6000 bikes, or one every 400 metres. The bikes are expected to generate around 40,000 extra cycle trips per day in central London.

The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "I have long held the view that a cycle-ised city is a civilised city; but if we are to get more Londoners on to two wheels rather than four we need to provide the facilities to help them do so."