"I call on Londoners to sign up from this Friday and become pioneer members"

I call on Londoners to sign up from this Friday and become pioneer members

The Mayor today called on Londoners to become 'pioneers' of London's newest public transport system.

As final preparations are made, TfL today announced that membership of the Mayor's flagship Barclays Cycle Hire scheme will open on 23 July, ahead of the scheme launch on 30 July. 

Barclays Cycle Hire will initially be available to people who sign up for membership. 

This will enable TfL and its contractor, Serco, to understand and learn from how pioneer members engage with the scheme, including patterns of bicycle usage.

Anyone will be able to sign up for a daily, weekly or annual membership from 23 July at tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire

In order to use the scheme on 30 July, members will need to have received and activated their Cycle Hire key, so pioneers are urged to sign up as soon as possible.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'I call on Londoners to sign up from this Friday and become pioneer members of this fantastic new addition to our transport system.

'I know that in time our scheme will become a new London icon and enable many more people to cycle in our magnificent city.

A cyclised city

'I look forward to seeing cycle hire and superhighways working in tandem to make London a 'cyclised' city.'

TfL's Managing Director of Surface Transport, David Brown said: 'Barclays Cycle Hire will revolutionise how we get around central London. 

'Building on the experience of other cities who have launched similar schemes, we and Serco will use the first month of operation to learn more about how Londoners engage with the scheme, including patterns of use, how we can best support customers and to enable the scheme to bed down.'

Chief Executive of Serco Civil Government, Tom Riall, said: 'After so much anticipation, we're proud to be delivering Barclays Cycle Hire for the Mayor and Londoners. 

'Pioneer members can register for this unique scheme from Friday, enabling them to hire a cycle from next Friday, 30 July. 

'We will continue to take registrations throughout August and then open the scheme up to casual users.

'We urge all users to cycle safely.'

A membership key costs £3 with membership costs at £1 for a 24-hour membership, £5 for seven days and £45 for an annual membership. 

'The first 30 minutes of any journey will be free.

For more information on how to become a member of Barclays Cycle Hire and advice on how to use the scheme visit tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire


Notes to editors:

Find out more about Barclays Cycle Hire, and register your interest in the scheme. Go online for more information about Barclays Cycle Superhighways
  • Members of the scheme must be at least 18 years old, and you will need to be at least 14 years old to use the scheme
  • Barclays Cycle Hire, which will be operated by Serco Limited on behalf of TfL, will be the most sustainable and environmentally friendly form of public transport ever seen in the Capital
  • Barclays Cycle Hire and Barclays Cycle Superhighways will build on the massive 117 per cent growth in cycle journeys on London's major roads since TfL was created in 2000. Barclays Cycle Hire is expected to generate up to 40,000 extra cycle trips a day in central London. There are currently 5,000 cycle journeys a day on both pilot Barclays Cycle Superhighways routes; TfL's target is to increase this by 22,000 cycle trips per day by 2013
  • Barclays Cycle Hire will operate across central London. Docking stations and hire bicycles will be available in Camden, City of London, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Kensington & Chelsea, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Westminster and several of the Royal Parks
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