Request ID: FOI-2713-2324 Date published: 20 November 2023
You asked
Dear TFL, I would like to know historical figures on cycle hire dock available spaces/spaces used up or something to that end (number of docked bikes, number of docks). Ideally this would reasonably regularly updated (each time a bike leaves or comes or a given time period 10 minutes perhaps, but whatever is easiest). I am aware this request was made before and rejected due to exceeding £450 cost, if this is still the case could I have access to the most recent data and as far back as that can go within the cost cap. CSV format if possible. Many thanks
We answered
Our ref: FOI-2713-2324/GH & FOI-2714-2324/GH
Thank you for your requests received by Transport for London (TfL) on 30 October 2023 asking for information about Santander Cycles.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
Under section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with a request if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. This is calculated at £25 per hour for every hour spent on the activities described. Section 12(4)(a) of the Act provides for the costs of complying with two or more requests made in a 60 working day period which are, to any extent, for the same or similar information to be combined.
We are therefore refusing both of your requests under section 12 of the FOI Act, as providing the information you have requested would exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.
Your first request asks for data on cycle hire dock availability in 10 minute intervals and requests we spend time locating and collating a huge amount of information up to the 18 hour ‘appropriate limit’. This is not something we can do, and suggest you consider limiting any request to a period of time which can be reasonably answered. Your second request again asks for information ‘as far back as is feasible to go..’. Again, this is not possible, and we therefore suggest you consider asking for a specific timeframe and refine requests to concentrate on matters which are important to you.
Please also note that the information you have requested does raise concerns around commercial sensitivities. We are in the process of retendering the Cycle Hire contract and part of this includes redistribution. Therefore, if you were to make a new request which we could answer within a reasonable time, it is unlikely we would be able to disclose the level of detail you are currently requesting, as this essentially gives our current suppliers redistribution strategy. We would therefore need to consider what information could be released at this time.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
