London’s Boris Bike scheme hits 11 million hires

Barclays Cycle Hire in London has topped 11million hires since the scheme launched in July 2010, according to Transport for London’s (TfL) draft annual report.

The scheme only became open to all users – including non-members – since December 2010. It hit six million hires by July 2011.

Why is the popularity of the hire scheme good news for cycle businesses? Apart from helping bicycles become a more common sight in London, a TfL survey has previously found that one in five cycle hire users (18 per cent) go on to buy their own cycling equipment. There’s more on that topic from Brompton, Condor, Bobbin and Evans here and here.

Recent developments for Barclays Cycle Hire include TfL’s implemention of a live data feed to improve access, meaning users can see the name, location, co-ordinates and maximum number of docking points – as well as the number of available bikes and free docking points – via apps on their mobile phones.

600 new docking points have been installed in West London near the Westfield Shopping Centre, with the expanded Barclays Cycle Hire area including 8,000 bikes and 15,000 docking points over 560 locations. The scheme now covers 65km2 of London. TfL is considering expanding it to the boroughs of Wandsworth, Hammersmith & Fulham, Lambeth, and Kensington and Chelsea.

TfL’s report also noted that there has been a 150 per cent growth in cycle journeys on London’s major roads in 12 years.

Other highlights from the document included the growth of Source London electric vehicle charge points, which are expected to number double that of petrol stations in London. In May the Mayor launched the Source London network, designed to encourage the public to switch to electric vehicles.

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