There are frequently no bikes at the Aldersgate Street, Barbican bike station. Can it be doubled in size.
Request ID: FOI-1347-2425 Date published: 15 August 2024
You asked
There are frequently no bikes at the Aldersgate Street, Barbican bike station. Can it be doubled in size.
Can this bike station please be doubled in size?
The Aldersgate Street, Barbican bike station is too small a bike station for such a busy central location, adjacent to the Tube station and close to the relatively new Elizabeth line station as well as the Fitness club, to which many members ride Santander bikes to and from.
Are you please able to advise Santander's:
1. limit on the number of times pa for zero available bikes at any docking station (i.e. what is Santander's KPI)?
2. action when that limit is exceeded?
3. the actual number (pa) of zero bikes for the Aldersgate Street, Barbican bike station?
On your advice from an earlier query, that the "stations are part funded by the borough":
4. what is the approximate percentage of funds provided by a borough for a docking station upgrade? and
5. is the remainder provided by Santander? or
6. are there also other sources of funds?
We answered
TfL Ref: 1347-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 27 July 2024 asking for information about Aldersgate Street, Barbican bike station.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Your specific questions and our replies are as follows:
There are frequently no bikes at the Aldersgate Street, Barbican bike station. Can it be doubled in size. The Aldersgate Street, Barbican bike station is too small a bike station for such a busy central location, adjacent to the Tube station and close to the relatively new Elizabeth line station as well as the Fitness club, to which many members ride Santander bikes to and from. Unfortunately due to planning constraints Aldersgate Street, Barbican, docking station cannot be extended. We appreciate it is amongst the smallest docking stations in the scheme. Unfortunately 15 docking points is all TfL were able to construct in 2010 as there were shallow underground services, such as power cabling, preventing the cycle hire docking stations foundations from being built.
limit on the number of times pa for zero available bikes at any docking station (i.e. what is Santander's KPI)? And2. action when that limit is exceeded?
TfL works closely with our suppliers to ensure bikes are available and docking points free for customers to dock bikes. Our suppliers are liable for financial penalties when KPIs are not met.
Further details of the KPI and financial penalty amounts is exempt from disclosure under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act which can apply to information where release would prejudice commercial interests, be it those of TfL or any other body. In this instance the exemption applies because disclosure would harm the commercial interests of Santander as well as TfL. Release of information under the Freedom of Information Act is considered to be to the world at large rather than the individual applicant. While it is appreciated that you have requested the information out of your own interest, to place this information into the public domain would inhibit TfL’s ability to negotiate the best value when contracting for similar work in the future (as well as inhibiting the contractor likewise as it tenders for other such work).
As a ‘qualified’ exemption, the use of section 43(2) is subject to consideration of the ‘public interest test’ to determine whether it is in the greater public interest for the exemption to apply and the information to be withheld, or for it to be released in any event. We appreciate the need for openness and transparency in the operation of our business, and the fact you have requested the information is in itself an argument in favour of release. However, we also have a responsibility to secure the best value when spending public money, and we believe that placing the requested information into the public domain would reduce our ability to secure the best price in future contracts, to the detriment of the public purse. We therefore believe that the greater public interest rests in the exemption applying.
3. the actual number (pa) of zero bikes for the Aldersgate Street, Barbican bike station?
Whilst we try to ensure bikes and empty docks are available at all times this is operationally very challenging particularly during peak times and at small docking stations. On average in 2024 bikes were available at Aldersgate Street, Barbican for 97% of the weekday a.m peak (0800-0959) and 90% of the weekday p.m peak (1600-1959). When the station did go empty, on average a bike arrived within 6 minutes. Whilst we appreciate customers would always want to dock at their preferred docking station there are a further 27 docking points available at Golden Lane, Barbican and 18 docking points at Roscoe Street, St Luke’s which are both a 2 minute cycle from Aldersgate Street, Barbican. A further 41 docking points are available at Berry Street, Clerkenwell which is a 3 minute cycle away.
On your advice from an earlier query, that the "stations are part funded by the borough": 4. what is the approximate percentage of funds provided by a borough for a docking station upgrade? and 5. is the remainder provided by Santander? or 6. are there also other sources of funds?
Funding for docking stations can come from a variety of sources. Boroughs can choose to invest public money for TfL to build docking stations in their borough. Funding can also come from Section 106 agreements where private developers contribute funding to improve the public realm as part of planning obligations. TfL and the GLA can also invest to build docking stations where funds are available.
It should be noted that Santander provide sponsorship for the Cycle Hire scheme. They do not provide any funding or investment for the building of docking stations.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
