Around 17,000 Barclays Cycle Hire journeys a day are now being made on London's iconic blue bikes.
"Having a key to this scheme is just like having the keys to the city itself, and our members are embracing the scheme and the freedom it offers them in their tens of thousands"
Boris Johnson
The Mayor of London

Having a key to this scheme is just like having the keys to the city itself, and our members are embracing the scheme and the freedom it offers them in their tens of thousands

In the month since the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) launched London's brand new public transport system, almost 70,000 people have signed up as members of the Mayor's scheme, making more than 350,000 journeys between them.

The number of Barclay's Cycle Hire docking stations has also grown - there are now 335 Barclays Cycle Hire locations in central London, 20 more than when the scheme launched on 30 July. 

New docking stations

Construction is set to start on around new four docking stations every week from early September, and all 400 stations that make up Phase One of the cycle hire scheme should be fully operational by the end of the year.

The popularity of the scheme means that around 17,000 journeys are already being made every weekday by Barclays Cycle Hire bikes, despite the system currently being available to members only.

This is expected to rise significantly with the roll-out of the scheme to casual users. The significant existing demand for the scheme means that the Mayor and TfL want to ensure the operating and distribution systems the scheme operator, Serco, has in place are as robust as possible before rolling it out further.

It will therefore be available to casual users and visitors by the end of this year.

New freedom

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'Having a key to this scheme is  just like having the keys to the city itself, and our members are embracing the scheme and the freedom it offers them in their tens of thousands. 

'Cycle hire has been a huge success, with unprecedented demand, and I want to ensure that when we open the scheme up to casual users we do not do it to the detriment of those pioneers who have been with us from the beginning. 

'By waiting until later this year we can learn about how people use the scheme, and it will allow Serco to address any remaining teething problems because I want to ensure that a high quality experience is maintained for every cycle ride.'

David Brown, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: 'Barclays Cycle Hire bikes have become a familiar and popular sight on the streets of central London in the past month, and are transforming the way people get around, and get to know, the Capital.

Most journeys free

'These are early days for Barclays Cycle Hire, and we are still working with our operator, Serco, to learn about and improve the scheme before opening it up to casual users. This new form of public transport is already proving hugely popular - with over 70,000 Londoners already signed up as members.

'Our approach will mean that those using one of our bikes experience the very best service possible.'

Around 93 per cent of all journeys made by Barclays Cycle Hire members are under 30 minutes, which means that the vast majority of people using the scheme aren't paying any more than their daily £1, weekly £5 or annual £45 access fees.

Notes to editors:

The creation of an easy to use cycle hire system was a key pledge of the Mayor's manifesto. Just over two years since his election, Barclays Cycle Hire is now transforming the way that people make short trips around central London
  • A membership key costs £3. Members must pay an access fee to use the scheme which is £1 for 24 hours, £5 for seven days or £45 for a year. The first 30 minutes of any journey are free from usage charges. Currently, those wishing to use the scheme need to register as a member by visiting: www.tfl.gov.uk/barclayscyclehire
  • Examples of journeys that can be carried out within thirty minutes, taken from TfL's cycling Journey Planner, include: 
    - The Regent's Park to Notting Hill Gate (25 minutes)
    - London Bridge to Hyde Park (27 minutes)
    - Tower Hill to Bond Street (23 minutes) 
    - Regent's Park to Westminster Abbey (16 minutes) 
    - The British Museum to Green Park (15 minutes)
    - Old Spitalfields Market to Speaker's Corner (27 minutes) 
    - High Street Kensington to Leicester Square (19 minutes)
  • Members of the scheme must be at least 18 years old, and you need to be at least 14 years old to use the scheme
  • Barclays Cycle Hire, which is operated by Serco Limited on behalf of TfL, is the most sustainable and environmentally friendly form of public transport ever seen in the Capital
  • Barclays Cycle Hire and Barclays Cycle Superhighways are building on the massive 117 per cent growth in cycle journeys on London's major roads since TfL was created in 2000
  • Barclays Cycle Hire operates across central London. Docking stations and hire bicycles are available in Camden, City of London, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Kensington & Chelsea, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Westminster and several of the Royal Parks