Request ID: FOI-2894-2324 Date published: 21 November 2023
You asked
I am working on a Data Science project using the publicly available data sets for the Santander bike hire scheme which contains lots of interesting data on hire times, duration and docking station locations etc. I am enquiring if it is possible to access or be supplied with GPS data for each bike hire journey. This data would be very interesting to break down into metrics around average distances travelled, popular routes etc. it goes without saying I have absolutely no interest in any personal or financial information on the hirers. I am only interested in the start time and location, the end time and location and the route data. I hope this request is clear but do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or require more information Regards
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2894-2324
I have been passed your request of 6th November 2023 asking for information about the Santander cycle hire scheme.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“I am working on a Data Science project using the publicly available data sets for the Santander bike hire scheme which contains lots of interesting data on hire times, duration and docking station locations etc. I am enquiring if it is possible to access or be supplied with GPS data for each bike hire journey. This data would be very interesting to break down into metrics around average distances travelled, popular routes etc. it goes without saying I have absolutely no interest in any personal or financial information on the hirers. I am only interested in the start time and location, the end time and location and the route data.”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
TfL proactively publishes data on individual journeys made by cycle hire users on our website here:
As you can see, this data provides the journey start and end locations, the date and time, and the journey duration. Any further details about individual journeys are exempt from disclosure under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, the exemption that protects against the unfair release of personal data. The release of such information would allow some individual users to be identified, placing them at a specific location at a specific time. We do not believe this would be fair on those individuals, and hence the exemption applies.
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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
