It’s noon, first day of your new, dream job. You’ve just popped out to buy your lunchtime panini (humous and watercress) when suddenly your blackberry buzzes in your pocked. It’s your new boss, beeping you for some vital documents from an office ten tube stops away. “What?” you gasp. “But I’ll never make it in time!”
What to do? How can you save your job, your career, your pride? Three weeks ago, nothing. But now, fear not, my friend! Your salvation sits just around the corner, docked in a little row of metal racks with his brothers. Thank goodness for the Barclays Cycle Hire Bicycles!
Yes, the time has come. July 30th the initiative finally launched, amidst a circus of attention and buzz. For those of you who haven’t been party to the news (where have you been? Living under a log?), they’re all part of a brand spanking new initiative launched here in London town by ‘our Boris’. The Barclays Cycle Hire bikes – sponsored, rather unsurprisingly, by Barclays bank – are mayor-owned bicycles docked in about a million spots around central London which anyone can use. It works, currently, via membership: you sign up and get given a key, which you can then use to unlock a bike from its rack, ride to your destination, and dock in the nearest rack (which will be pretty near – take another look at that link of locations). The first thirty minutes of every ride is free, and after that the prices rise – quite steeply – from £1 (for an hour’s use) to £50 (for 24 hours). There is, on top of this, an annual membership fee of £45, plus £3 per key (you can have up to four for family rides).
So how well does this grand scheme of green work? Well, it’s all a bit of an enigma still, really. No one knows quite how it’s going to go down. Most reviewers (such as that nice chap James Cridland) think it works pretty well, with the most frequent complaint being that the basket is too small (but at least it has one) and that it’s pretty heavy (but that’s because it contains a dynamo to work the lights, and everything is packed inside to limit vandalism). There’s no lock to chain it up, but you don’t need one – before you pop into the shops, leave your bike at the nearest dock (they don’t have to go back to the same one) and get another one out for the ride home if you fancy it.
The biggest problem is still that you need to be a member to get one out, but all that will change very shortly when casual hire is made possible. Then all you’ll need is a credit card and off you whizz.
What do you think? Is this something you’ll be using, making exercise easier on those stressful office days? Or is it just an accident waiting to happen? Great for the green future or a waste of green dosh? Let us know in the comments below!
I work in covent garden and I’ve used these at lunch sometimes. A bit slow maybe, but better than lugging my bike in just for a 30 minute spin! I reckon they’re a good investment.