Throughout the last year one in five bike hire docking stations were empty for at least three hours each day, according to new figures released by the Mayor of London following questions from Caroline Pidgeon AM, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group.
Between 1st July 2012 to the 30th June 2013 the level of empty bike hire docking stations included:
- 107 docking stations empty for 3 hours or more each day
- 76 docking stations empty for 4 hours or more each day
- 54 docking stations empty for 5 hours or more each day
- 29 docking stations empty for 6 hours or more each day
- 9 docking stations empty for 7 hours or more each day
The worst performing docking station was Portugal Street in Holborn, which over the last year was empty for 8.5 hours each day.
The poor distribution of bikes across the docking stations also includes some being completely full, creating problems for bike hire users attempting to return a hired bike. Over the last year 41 docking stations were completely full for at least two hours each day.
Speaking ahead of the third anniversary of the bike hire scheme, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“The poor distribution of bikes across the docking stations is the number one complaint made by users of the scheme. The complete absence of any bikes at so many docking stations, for such long periods of time every day, is also a huge deterrent to encouraging people to start using the scheme. It is ultimately hard to hire a bike when none exist!
“After three years of operating there can be no more excuses from the Mayor and TfL about the poor performance of the bike hire scheme.
“It is time that the bike hire scheme moved up a gear.”