Cycle hire needs to step up a gear

Many bike hire docking stations lack even a single bike for many hours each day, new figures obtained by Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, have revealed.

Following Caroline’s questioning of the Mayor he has admitted that in January there were 44 docking stations across London that were empty each day for an average of at least 240 minutes or more (over 4 hours). Incredibly 26 of the docking stations were empty for at least 300 minutes or more each day (5 hours) and 10 were even empty for over 360 minutes each day (over 6 hours). At the same time problems exist with some docking stations being completely full, making it difficult for people to return a bike at the end of a bike trip. In January there were 28 docking stations that were full for an average of 120 minutes or more each day (2 hours or more).

The January performance figures were significantly worse than the figures for the previous month. Fewer people use the bike hire scheme in the winter months, especially when it is wet, so the figures for December and January reveal the true record of the bike hire scheme when demand for the bikes is at its lowest level.

Commenting on the latest figures, Caroline Pidgeon said:

“If there are dozens of bike docking stations empty for such long periods of time during the quietest time of the year, what hope is there for the busy summer months, when hopefully demand for the bike hire scheme will soar?

“The bike hire scheme is fast approaching its third anniversary. It is no longer a novelty and there can be no room for excuses by TfL or the Mayor about its performance, especially considering its public subsidy.

“The performance of the bike hire scheme needs to step up a gear. Empty bike docking stations deter people from even thinking of using the scheme. It is hard to hire a bike when none exist!

“The redistribution of bikes across the docking stations needs to dramatically improve. Above all else Serco must improve their record in managing the bike hire scheme, and there needs to be new incentives for people to return bikes to underused docking stations, especially at certain times of the day.”